A vice president at a Florida university has been named the finalist for the University of West Georgia presidency.

Dr. Kyle Marrero, the vice president for university advancement at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla., was announced Friday as the finalist for the presidency following a University System of Georgia Board of Regents meeting. The Board of Regents will take final action on the selection of the next president of UWG at a future meeting.

John Millsaps, associate vice chancellor of media and publications for the Board of Regents, said that a “final action” meeting could be held as early as next Friday, after the five-day public notice waiting period has expired.

Millsaps said the meeting could be later than that, however, but that the public would be made aware of the date of the final action meeting.

During this required-by-law waiting period, negotiations will take place between the university system and Marrero.

University of West Georgia President Dr. Beheruz Sethna announced his retirement in August. His last day as president is set for June 30.

Marrero, if formally approved after the waiting period, will presumably take the reins in July, which follows the timeline originally agreed upon by Sethna and USG Chancellor Hank Huckaby.

Marrero was one of five candidates who visited UWG in the past month, touring the campus and speaking with students and faculty members.

The other four candidates who visited, but were not announced as finalists by USG were:

• Dr. John Crafton, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Clayton State University in Morrow, Ga.;

• Dr. Michael Lane, president of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan.;

• Dr. James Berry, executive vice president and provost at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas;

• Dr. Charles Patterson, vice president for research and economic development for Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga.

Marrero has held his position in Pensacola since August 2009. According to a statement issued by the Board of Regents, in his position, Marrero “provides executive leadership to advance the mission of the university in the areas of alumni relations, development, marketing and communications.”

Marrero’s background is in music, and prior to his current position, he served as first the chair of the Department of Music and then as the director of the School of Fine and Performing Arts at the University of West Florida.

Prior to his work at the University of West Florida, Marrero taught voice, opera and conducting at a number of institutions in Louisiana, Michigan and Ohio.

He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and earned his doctorate of musical arts degree in vocal performance from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Don Rice, chairman of the psychology department at UWG and of the search committee, said the committee was “very pleased” with the three names sent to the higher board. These three names were not going to be released, Millsaps said.

Sethna is currently the longest-serving university president in Georgia, among both public and private institutions. His 19 years on UWG’s campus will not end with his retirement, however. He plans to continue his work as a professor of business administration.