The leading candidate for president of Tusculum College is Dr. Nancy Moody, president of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, according to Tusculum College officials.

"She is an outstanding candidate," said Ken Bowman, chairman of the board of trustees in a phone interview.

He added, "I feel we are fortunate we have an individual with her track record and credentials. I'm very excited about the prospects of a long-term relationship."

Dr. Moody was the only one of four candidates considered during the college's latest presidential search to have been invited for on-campus visits, Bowman said.

Two of the candidates, including Dr. Moody, previously underwent off-campus interviews by a search committee. The two other applicants "withdrew themselves from consideration," Bowman said.

Dr. Moody's visits with staff, faculty and students were scheduled for Monday and today, according to Bowman.

Dr. Russell Nichols, interim president of Tusculum College and an adviser to the search committee -- but not a member of the committee -- said he thinks Dr. Moody is "the only candidate that in the committee's eyes was worthy of a visit to the campus."

He added, "Several have applied" for the position of president, and "all have been considered."

Dr. Nichols said, "The search will continue until the job is offered and accepted" by a candidate.

Dr. Moody has been president of Lincoln Memorial University since 2002, according to biographical information supplied to The Greeneville Sun by Tusculum College.

As president of Lincoln Memorial University, Dr. Moody has overseen seven straight years of record enrollments, according to her resume.

She was also the first woman to hold the title since the university was founded in 1897, again according to her resume.

Dr. Moody held several positions in the nursing field, including most recently as an associate professor, from 2000-2001, at the University of Tennessee's College of Nursing. She was also the executive director for the Tennessee Center for Nursing for those two years.

From 1994-2000, Dr. Moody was an associate professor and chair in the Department of Professional Roles/Mental Health Nursing in the College of Nursing at East Tennessee State University.

From 1984-1994, Dr. Moody was associate professor and dean in the School of Nursing and Allied Health at Lincoln Memorial University.

Prior to that, from 1974-1984, she was an instructor/assistant professor for the Department of Nursing at Lincoln Memorial University.

From 1972-1975, she was a staff nurse.

During her tenure as president of Lincoln Memorial University, Dr. Moody has overseen the formation of three new extended campus sites and the creation of new academic programs, including one in osteopathic medicine and a master of science in nursing program with concentrations in family nursing practice and nurse anesthesia.

Tusculum College has been without a permanent president since Dr. Dolphus Henry suddenly departed at the end of a college board of trustees meeting in May 2007, doing so after the trustees informed Henry his services were no longer desired.

Dr. Henry formally resigned last July after negotiating a settlement of his contract with the college. He had served as Tusculum's president since 2000.

Since then, the college has conducted two previous unsuccessful searches for a permanent president. It announced last winter that it had narrowed its search to two candidates, Dr. Craig Turner, persident of Hardin-Simmons College in Texas, and Dr. J. Patrick Raines, dean of Belmont University's College of Business in Nashville

However, Turner withdrew from consideration when he accepted the presidency of Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., only notifyng Tusculum through an e-mail.

After it was made publicly clear that Raines had been Tusculum's second choice, he also withdrew from consideration.

A second presidential search last spring was concluded without the Search Commitee recommending anyone.

The pressure to choose a permanent president had lessened with Dr. Nichols agreeing to continue as Tusculum's interim president for a second year.