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Bothell Today
By the People, for the People
One Finalist Withdraws from WNMU President Search
The university continues its search with four remaining candidates for the 16th president.
Published on Feb. 26, 2026
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One of the five finalists for the presidency of Western New Mexico University has withdrawn from consideration. Cameron Wesson, provost and vice president for academic affairs at La Salle University, was scheduled to visit the campus on Thursday but has since withdrawn, according to a press release from WNMU. The search will continue with the four remaining candidates, who will visit the campus over the next two weeks for public meet-and-greet sessions.
Why it matters
The selection of a new university president is a critical decision that will shape the institution's future direction and priorities. WNMU's search process aims to identify the best candidate to lead the university forward, and the withdrawal of a finalist midway through the process highlights the competitive nature of these high-profile searches.
The details
The four remaining finalists are Jose E. Coll, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Oregon University; Carlos Romero, associate vice president of research at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; Sharon Jones, former vice chancellor for academic affairs and a tenured professor at University of Washington Bothell; and Mario Martinez, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fort Lewis College. Each candidate will participate in a public meet-and-greet session from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on their respective campus visit days.
- The campus visits begin today, February 26, 2026.
- Jose E. Coll will be on campus on February 26.
- Carlos Romero will be on campus on February 28.
- Sharon Jones will be on campus on March 3.
- Mario Martinez will be on campus on March 4.
The players
Cameron Wesson
Provost and vice president for academic affairs at La Salle University, who has withdrawn from consideration for the WNMU presidency.
Jose E. Coll
Provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Oregon University, one of the four remaining finalists for the WNMU presidency.
Carlos Romero
Associate vice president of research at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, one of the four remaining finalists for the WNMU presidency.
Sharon Jones
Former vice chancellor for academic affairs and a tenured professor at University of Washington Bothell, one of the four remaining finalists for the WNMU presidency.
Mario Martinez
Provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fort Lewis College, one of the four remaining finalists for the WNMU presidency.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The withdrawal of a finalist from the WNMU presidential search highlights the competitive nature of these high-profile leadership positions, as universities seek to identify the best candidate to guide their institution forward. The remaining four finalists will have the opportunity to engage with the campus community and demonstrate their vision and qualifications for the role.
