The University of Toledo search committee went through 29 applications for the job of president, including at least seven with previous experience at the university, before narrowing the list to the three finalists who were announced Thursday.

The Blade requested and on Friday obtained the cover letters and resumes of the applicants, which include 25 men and four women. The group draws from universities and the private sector across the country, and includes at least three African-Americans and several people who appear to have been born and educated in other countries.

Candidates with UT experience included:

● Carol Bresnahan, a former history professor and vice provost for academic programs and policies at UT, 2005 to 2008, and is now provost and vice president for academic affairs at Rollins College in Florida.

● Phillip Closius, former dean of the UT college of law, now law professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law in Maryland.

● Gary Moore, professor of finance at UT.

● UT interim President Nagi Naganathan, dean of the college of engineering, who was interviewed and was a semifinalist.

In addition, Dr. Samir N. Khleif, director of the Cancer Center at Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Ga., did his residency program at the former Medical College of Ohio in Toledo.

Dr. Alan Marco, professor of anesthesiology at Wright State University, was on the faculty of MCO and its successor, the University of Toledo Medical Center, from 1998 to 2013, including as chairman of anesthesiology and director of the residency training program in anesthesiology.

And Yash Gupta, president and CEO of tech company SDP Telecom Inc. in Doval, Quebec, was a visiting professor at UT from 1985-86.

Mr. Closius said he was invited repeatedly by the search committee to apply, and when he did, heard nothing for two and a half months until receiving an email Thursday informing him he didn’t make the cut.

“It was a little long to hear nothing, but not terribly unusual I guess,” Mr. Closius said. He was UT’s law dean from 1999 to 2005.

In his cover letter, Mr. Closius recounted successes as a dean at UT and at the University of Baltimore, where he was law school dean from 2007 to 2011,“I believe the university can embrace an access mission while also increasing quality,” he said.

The three finalists are Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas; Michele Wheatly, former provost and now professor and senior adviser to the president of West Virginia University, and Christopher Howard, president of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.

With two Caucasian women and one African-American man on the final list, UT appears certain to have its first president who is not a white man.

They were selected after the search committee interviewed eight semifinalists earlier this week. The candidates are bidding to replace Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, who stepped down as president on June 30.

The other semifinalists were:

● Christopher Maples, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology.

● John Rudley, president of Texas Southern University, who received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UT in 1970.

● Timothy Greene, provost and vice president of Western Michigan University.

● John Wiencek, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University. All four withdrew prior to the final selection, UT spokesman Jonathan Strunk said.

Joseph H. Zerbey IV, chairman of UT’s board of trustees and The Blade’s president and general manager, said the search committee was looking for candidates who were “transformational” and could manage change.

Mr. Strunk said the university’s intention is to have the candidates on campus in February and for the board of trustees to enter negotiations with their chosen finalist shortly thereafter.

The campus tour will include visits with leadership constituency groups for faculty, staff, students, and administrators on all campuses, as well as alumni and community members, he said.

The visits also will include open forums that will be streamed live.

The 22-person search committee is made up of Mr. Zerbey and trustee vice chairman Sharon Speyer, one student, nine faculty and staff, and 10 community and alumni representatives.

Staff writer Lauren Lindstrom contributed to this report.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.

First Published January 24, 2015, 5:00 a.m.