The dean of the University of North Dakota law school has been named to lead the group that will recommend a successor to UND President Charles Kupchella.

Paul LeBel was named chairman of the 16-member committee, which was approved Thursday during a conference call with members of the state Board of Higher Education.

"This is a very, very important position," said board President John Q. Paulsen, of Fargo, who helped form the search committee.

LeBel said he received the list of committee members after the board meeting.

"Very impressive," he said in a telephone interview. "I was really delighted when I saw the list. These are people with a lot of experience in different areas, and the ones I know are really committed to the success of the university."

UND faculty members on the committee are Glenda Lindseth, Doug Munski, Myrna Olson and David Yearwood. Also named to the group were UND Alumni Association and Foundation Executive Vice President Tim O'Keefe and student body President Jay Fisher.

LeBel said he plans to schedule an organizational meeting in June.

Paulsen said he and university system Chancellor Eddie Dunn reviewed more than 100 names of people who either were interested in being on the committee or were nominated by someone else.

"Everyone of them (committee members) said they would accept the position with great enthusiasm," Paulsen said.

More than 25 people were on the committee that recommended Kupchella for the UND job in 1999. Paulsen said several people suggested he trim the list this time.

"We thought we would be able to put together a committee that was sized to be manageable and still represent all the constituencies at UND," Paulsen said.

The board approved a motion Thursday to hire a Washington, D.C., consulting firm to aid in the UND search and help find a successor for Dickinson State President Lee Vickers, who is retiring at the end of the year. Board member Pam Kostelecky was appointed Thursday to organize the search committee for the Dickinson State job.

Kupchella, who turns 65 in July, announced earlier this year that he planned to retire in January. He has led the school through major changes, including a jump to Division I athletics and a dispute with the NCAA over the school's Fighting Sioux nickname.

LeBel, who turns 59 in July, is in his fourth year as dean of the UND law school. A University of Florida law school graduate, he has worked at law schools in Illinois, Alabama, William and Mary, and Florida State.