The top candidate to take over as chancellor of Western Carolina University has withdrawn from consideration.

The school in Cullowhee said in a news release Monday that the search will continue for a new leader of the North Carolina school with an enrollment of more than 11,000 graduate and undergraduate students.

The school had expected to announce a new chancellor last Friday.

The chair of the school’s board, Patricia Kaemmerling, said the university is still positioned to make great progress, even with this setback.

The chancellor’s post has been vacant since Jan. 1. Former Chancellor David Belcher died in June after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He went on medical leave in December.

Allison Morrison-Shetlar has agreed to continue to serve as interim chancellor.

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