The Presidential Search Committee recommended the finalists from a pool of 24 applicants from 10 states.
The board may select the president at its Thursday meeting at Snow College, or it may announce at a later date.
The candidates are:
* Gary Carlston, an associate professor in Utah State University's Department of Elementary Education since 2003. He was the deputy superintendent for the Utah State Office of Education from 1999 to 2002 and Gov. Mike Leavitt's education deputy from 1997 to 1999.
* Val Peterson, vice president of administration and legislative affairs for Utah Valley State College since 2006. He is currently the brigade commander for the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade of the Utah National Guard. He has held numerous leadership positions at UVSC since 1987.
* Paul Prestwich, vice president of academic affairs at Sussex County Community College in Newton, N.J., since 2005. From 1999 to 2005, he served as the dean of academic services, the dean of arts and sciences and the associate dean for business, mathematics and science at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo.
* Stephen Taylor, owner of Big Cat Ventures Inc., which was established in 1998. He is a private investor and board member of Traditional Building Skills Institute at Snow College and Target Bank Inc. in Salt Lake City. He was the director of Conseco Bank in Salt Lake City from 1999 to 2003.
* Richard White, executive vice president for the Richfield Campus of Snow College since 2002. He was the vice president for academic affairs for Snow College from 1986 to 2002. He was the director of the Management Institute in the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida from 1985 to 1986.
* Scott Wyatt, managing partner of Daines & Wyatt, LLP since 2002 and a Utah lawmaker since 2005. He was the county attorney for Cache County Corp. from 1995 to 2002 and a partner in the law firm Barrett, Daines & Wyatt from 1990 to 1995.
