In a period of 24 hours, the candidate pool for the next University of Massachusetts chancellor has decreased from four finalists to two.

Susan Phillips, the provost and vice president of academic affairs at the State University of New York Albany, has withdrawn her application from the position, the Springfield Republican reported.

“A complicated decision, of course, but I know that the other three finalists are all excellent candidates and that the very special place that is UMass will be well-served with their leadership,” she wrote in the email, according to the Republican.

Her withdrawal came just two days after a Daily Hampshire Gazette story, in which interviewed faculty members offered no support for Phillips’ candidacy.

Later on Friday, Portland State University announced that Sona Andrews had been selected as the university’s next provost and vice president for academic affairs.

There are now two candidates for the chancellor position: Kumble Subbaswammy, provost at the University of Kentucky and Carlos Sanitago, chief executive officer of the Hispanic College Fund.

The Board of Trustees will meet Monday night in Boston where President Robert Caret will make his recommendation for Chancellor Robert Holub’s successor. The Gazette reports that a vote on the chancellor is tentatively scheduled to take place at that meeting.

– Collegian News Staff