FARGO, N.D. — Dr. Robert Kelley has been offered the job as president of the University of North Dakota, after some school supporters complained that the state Board of Higher Education should have interviewed more than one candidate.

The board voted unanimously Monday to selected Kelley, 63, as UND’s 11th president. He has take two days to accept the job, said John Q. Paulsen, board president.

“Dr. Kelley is a wise, experienced and visionary leader,” Paulsen said. “He is a person of absolute integrity. He is fair and decent in everything he does and everything he says.

“Simply stated, people like him, they like to be with him, they like to work with him.”

Chancellor Bill Goetz said Kelley was offered a three-year contract worth $300,000 per year. Kelley, dean of health sciences at the University of Wyoming, would replace Charles Kupchella, who plans to retire in July.

Kelley told board members he would be a hands-on leader who won’t be afraid to trade his suit and tie for jeans and tour the campus to chat with students and staff.

“I tend to like people,” Kelley said during his interview with the board. “I tend to like interaction with people.”

Kelley was the lone finalist selected by a UND search committee, even though the board had asked the committee to name three finalists for consideration. A motion by board member Pam Kostelecky to interview two other candidates was defeated 6-2.

Kostelecky said she was disappointed the search committee “felt they could and should make the decision without the input of the full board.”

Board members said they were impressed with Kelley's responses to questions about faculty salaries, the school's jump to Division I athletics, collaboration among the other state universities and communication among students, staff, board members and lawmakers.

“And its not necessarily the answers you have given to the questions ... but how I've seen you and your wife Marsha interact with the community,” said board member Grand Shaft of Grand Forks.