§18B-12A-5. Appointment of president; qualifications.

(a) The governing body of each center shall employ a president who shall be the chief executive officer of the center and who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the governing body;

(b) The center shall be under the control and supervision of the president who, with the approval of the governing body, may employ staff as is necessary to carry out the center's purpose and scope;

(c) The governing body shall set the qualifications for the position of president and shall conduct a thorough search for qualified candidates. A qualified candidate is one who meets at least the following criteria:

(1) Possesses a broad understanding of the relationship between public and private sector research, the advancement and commercialization of new and emerging technologies and economic development and has significant experience and an established professional reputation in these fields;

(2) Holds, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree in a field related to the duties and responsibilities of the position of president;

(3) Demonstrates specifically that he or she has developed effective and successful grant management skills, as well as skill in fostering collaborations between business-industry and doctoral institutions;

(4) Demonstrates strong communication skills and the ability to work with all types of businesses and industry, government agencies and higher education institutions; and

(5) Possesses other skills, qualifications or attributes as the governing body may consider appropriate or desirable.