Haywood Community College has named five finalists for president of the college, and candidate interviews will begin July 23.

A 17-member search committee consisting of people from the community selected the finalists, which include Douglas W. Allen, Barbara Beebe, John D. Gossett, Keith Mackie and Teresa E. Smith.

The public is invited to come meet the different candidates. The community meet-and-greet sessions will take place from 11:20 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and from 12:35-1:30 p.m. on July 23 and July 26 and at 12:35-1:30 p.m. on July 25. These sessions will take place in the HCC Auditorium Lobby.

Allen, current president of Ridgewater College in Minnesota, will visit July 23, as will Smith, vice president for Administration/CFO at Tallahassee Community College. On July 25, community members will have the opportunity to meet Beebe, vice president of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at Allegany College of Maryland.

The final day, July 26, will feature sessions with Gossett, vice president of Student Development Services at Mayland Community College in North Carolina, and Mackie, vice president of Instruction at Catawba Valley Community College, also in North Carolina.