MAYVILLE (AP) - Mayville State University's interim president brings a mechanic's experience to the job.

Gary Hagen is currently the vice president of academic affairs at the school. He takes over for Pamela Balch, who leaves Friday to be president of her alma mater, West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Hagen spent his spare time this past year restoring a Model A Ford. Now he will be using his skills to make sure the 116-year-old Mayville State University runs smoothly.

"I do like a good challenge," Hagen said.

Mayville has been hit hard by an increase in energy costs. The rising price of the fuel oil, on which the university relies to heat its buildings, has been blamed for as much as $500,000 of the school's current $870,000 deficit.

Despite cuts, the university was projected to have a deficit of $155,000 for this coming year.

Hagen said he will be able to handle both the vice president and president roles.

"One of the things I can do is assume both jobs, and of course that will alleviate a lot of the deficit right away," Hagen said. "To be honest, I've been overwhelmed with offers of help from division chairs and faculty to pick up duties. I was a bit skeptical about being able to do both at first, but at this point I'm very positive … I found out I had a lot of friends, and I'm going to need them."

Ellen Chaffee, the president of Valley City State University, was the president of both Valley City State and Mayville State from 1993 to 2002 and worked with Hagen after he was named vice president in 1998.

"He knows how to put things together so they work," Chaffee said. "He's a builder."

"Obviously, our first task is to get our finance plan on paper and well set," Hagen said. "We're pretty far along on that. We will have a good solid plan that should put people's minds at ease. My mind is that the deficit is manageable. We're dealing with 1.6 percent of our budget, so it's not a panic thing … It will take us a few years, but we'll be fine."

Hagen, Balch and others said there has been no talk of combining the Mayville and Valley City presidencies again as a cost-saving measure.

Hagen earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1974, a master's degree in 1977 and a doctorate in business education in 1986, all from the University of North Dakota. He has worked at the university for 30 years, starting as a professor in the business division.

"He has lived the faculty role, the administrative role, been chief information officer and he knows the community, and his wife is very active in the community, and that strength will be huge," Balch said.

Hagen is helping write a $1.8 million grant proposal to increase student enrollment. If it succeeds, Mayville State would have money to research student needs and to deliver services to meet them.

Hagen sidesteps the question of whether he will apply for the permanent president's job.

"Generally interims, aren't candidates," Hagen said. "But, certainly you see searches where, if things are working out well or if the local community thinks they are working out well, I think they can be inserted into the process. But at this point in time, I have a job to do and I'm focusing on that."