Thirty-seven people have applied for Boise State University’s vacant president job since the search restarted after lawmakers passed a law moving the process almost entirely behind closed doors.

The Idaho State Board of Education heard an update on the president search Thursday — the first since lawmakers passed and Gov. Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1225 in February. 

The legislation allowed the State Board to name one finalist for university president jobs. The board would then have to wait at least 10 business days before making a hire. Previously, state law required the names of five finalists to be released to the public.

Before the search to replace former Boise State President Marlene Tromp stalled last year, State Board members said some qualified candidates had bristled at having their names publicized, risking consequences at their current jobs.

Board member David Turnbull, who’s leading the State Board’s search committee, said Thursday that seven of the current applicants previously applied but “declined to move forward” under the former law. 

“This new legislation reforms and modernizes the search process for today’s realities, and it’s been very helpful so far,” Turnbull said. 

Last year, the State Board received 52 applications before pausing the search in October.

The search committee has conducted its first round of applicant interviews, Turnbull said. The goal is to hire someone in June, so they’ll be in place for the fall 2026-27 semester. 

It’s been more than a year since Tromp moved to the University of Vermont, where she was appointed president. Jeremiah Shinn, Boise State interim president since May of 2025, is also moving on. Shinn was named president of the University of Montana on Tuesday.

“He stepped into the presidency at a critical time, and he moved the university forward,” Turnbull said. “You’ll be missed but not far away.”

Board authorizes director to approve BSU settlement

Also Thursday, board members gave Executive Director Jenn White authority to approve a settlement at Boise State for an undisclosed amount. 

Board members discussed the settlement in an executive session, then voted on it during the public portion of Thursday’s meeting. State law allows public boards to discuss pending or “imminently likely” litigation along with attorney-client communications behind closed doors. 

White, who leads the Office of the State Board of Education, said the board’s delegation of authority permits her to approve a “pending settlement” at Boise State that exceeds $200,000.

“I believe that’s all I can say publicly,” she said.