Robert Frank, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, is one of 26 candidates for president of Florida State University, according to Academic Search, the firm conducting the selection process.

As of yesterday morning, Frank was on the list of nominees on Academic Search’s Web site who may be granted on-campus interviews by Florida State’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee.

Last night, the group members gathered to select the candidates they would like to meet with on Thursday and Friday, according to the university’s Web site. Frank could not be reached to confirm whether he was invited by the committee to visit.

Tom Janson, Kent State Faculty Senate chair, said it is normal for administrators at Frank’s level to move to higher positions every three to five years.

Frank was dean and professor of the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida, Gainesville, before being appointed as Kent State’s provost in March 2007. He is a board-certified clinical psychologist and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Mexico.

If selected for the position, Frank would succeed T.K. Wetherell, who resigned in June. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Fla., and has an enrollment of 40,000.

– Regina Garcia Cano