Three vie for N.C. State chancellor position

The North Carolina State University Board of Trustees has submitted the names of three candidates to University of North Carolina system officials to become N.C. State's next chancellor, officials said Wednesday.

The names of the three finalists won't be released, officials said.

The UNC Board of Governors is expected to vote on selecting the next chancellor at its January or February meeting.

Chancellor James Oblinger resigned in June amid questions over his role in hiring then-first lady Mary Easley in 2005 and questions about a lucrative payout he arranged for N.C. State's former provost, who also resigned over the Easley flap.

James Woodward, the retired chancellor of UNC-Charlotte, has served as N.C. State's chancellor in recent months.