The wait is almost over.

After nearly eight months, the state Board of Regents is due to interview and select the 21st president of the University of Iowa. The next president will replace Sally Mason, who served from 2007 to the end of July.

The search process has drawn criticism from UI faculty members concerned about its speed and transparency.

The regents will consider four candidates, who have each participated in public forums since last week.

Marvin Krislov

Currently serves as president of the private Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

Experience: Acting solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor, associate counsel to the Office of the Counsel to the U.S.president, vice president and general counsel at the University of Michigan.

Krislov stressed affordable education and suggested visiting every county in the state: “This is your university. Send your children and grandchildren here.”

Michael Bernstein

Currently the provost of Tulane University in New Orleans.

Experience: Served as history professor, history chairman, and humanities deans at University of California-San Diego.

Bernstein said he envisions putting the UI on the same level as the University of Michigan and the University of California-Berkeley.

Joseph Steinmetz

Currently the provost of Ohio State University.

Experience: Psychology professor and chairman at Indiana University, liberal arts and sciences dean at the University of Kansas.

Laid out six principles: transparency, diversity, balancing financial needs, world-class faculty, collaboration, and recognition for being outstanding.

Bruce Harreld

Currently an adviser to General Motors, according to his LinkedIn page.

Experience:  Adjunct lecturer at Harvard Business School, senior vice president of Kraft Foods, president and director of Boston Market, senior vice president of IBM.

The only finalist without any experience in academic administration, Harreld noted his experience in “transformational change” at different firms.