The Tennessee Board of Regents on Friday said it has narrowed down to four the candidates for the Tennessee State University president position. The quartet, which has been recommended by a search advisory committee, include one local higher ed exec, Lipscomb University Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Bennie Harris. The others are now working at Auburn University, Jackson State University and the University of Akron.

Harris (pictured here) came to Lipscomb and Nashville in 2007 from DePaul University in Chicago, where he was assistant vice president for development and campaign director. He also has been director for the Center for Human Rights at Washington State University, interim and associate director of corporate and foundation relations at Washington State, and senior director of development and external affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.