JACKSON — The state College Board will move forward with its search for presidents for Jackson State University and Alcorn State University with the first round of interviews later this month.

Board President Bettye Neely said in a news release Tuesday that the search committees have held listening sessions on each of the campuses.

Officials say the search committees are in the process of reviewing ratings given to each of the candidates. A select number of candidates will be invited for interviews Oct. 20-22.

Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds said even though the state constitution gives the board the authority to choose university leaders without outside input, an inclusive process leads to selecting the best possible candidate.

Bounds also said it’s important to keep the names of the candidates confidential.

“Nationally, we have seen those in public positions face retribution when it was revealed that they were seeking new positions,” Bounds said in the news release. “We certainly do not want to discourage the best leaders in higher education from applying for fear of the consequences they may face with their current institutions.”

Alcorn State has been without a permanent leader since George Ross stepped down in February to become president of Central Michigan University.

Former JSU President Ronald Mason left at the end of June to take over the Southern University System, based in Baton Rouge.