The state College Board will release the names of the preferred candidates for presidents of the University of Southern Mississippi and Alcorn State University on Tuesday.

College Board spokeswoman Annie Mitchell said Friday that the two will visit the campuses of the respective universities during the first week in April. She said the College Board will make a formal announcement of the selections after those visits.

The USM campus visit is scheduled for April 5, while the Alcorn State visit is set for April 3, Mitchell said.

At Alcorn State, the new president will succeed Clinton Bristow, who died last August from a heart attack while jogging on the Lorman campus. Bristow had been president for 11 years.

USM President Shelby Thames has said he will step down when his contract expires in May.

On the Net:

State College Board, http://www.ihl.state.ms.us