The search of a new Executive Vice President to replace retiring Bob Kozoman got a step closer to resolution Monday as two finalists for the positon were revealed.

DePaul Treasurer Jeffrey Bethke and Roosevelt University Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Miroslava Mejia Krug were named finalists for the no. 3 position at the university nearly four months after Kozoman’s retirement was announced and more than a month after the search committee started asking for applications.

In a letter to the DePaul community, search committee chair Peter Argianas said “our committee believes that each of these individuals has the requisite range of experience, skills, commitment and vision to be a successful executive vice president at DePaul.”

Bethke has filled several roles at DePaul since 2002, eventually working his way up to his current position in 2008. According to his CV, he led the university’s stadium negotiations with the city, diversified the university’s stock portfolio (which contributed to a 78 percent increase in the endowment in between 2009 and 2015) and oversaw several real estate transactions, including the purchase of the Daley Center and partial financing of the Arts & Letters Hall and McGowan South.

In his letter to the university community, Bethke cites his background as a first-generation college student, ability to think in both creative and quantitative manners and commitment to collaborative leadership as reasons why he is best suited for the job.

“I love DePaul and, if given the opportunity to serve it as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, believe my educational training, career experience, skills, personal fit, and deep understanding of the institution and its unique culture would allow me, from the very start, to effectively support the academic mission of the university and contribute to its continued growth, development and ongoing operational success,” Bethke wrote.

Krug has been in her role at Roosevelt since 2008. Her prior experience includes more than 10 years in various capacities at United Airlines and a five-year term as the Chief Financial Officer of the Chicago Housing Authority.

According to her CV, she oversaw the development and construction of Roosevelt’s vertical campus, “a 32-story, $128 million mixed use academic facility and the second tallest university building in the U.S,” the creation of the university’s College of Pharmacy. In her time with the CHA, she managed the authority’s ambitious albeit controversial Plan for Transformation, which called for the redevelopment and rethinking of public housing in the city.

Krug touted her experience in higher education, both the public and private sectors and her ability to help mission-based organizations as reasons why she is best qualified for the job.

“As higher education is called to greater public scrutiny, institutions must be prepared to answer the ‘value question’ in new, compelling, and transparent ways,” Krug said. “I am deeply committed to acting with the accountability and integrity required of organizations that will successfully navigate this future.”

Members of the university community will have an opportunity to ask questions to each candidate directly and give anonymous input to the university when each candidate visits campus.

Bethke’s on-campus interview is Sept. 10. While some meetings are invite-only, anyone interested can attend the open session from 3:30-5 p.m. at 14 E. Jackson, room 806.

Krug will be on campus Sept. 14, with the open session scheduled from 3:30-5 p.m. at the DePaul Center, room 8005.

The last time the EVP position was available, the university stayed in-house by promoting Kozoman, who served two stints as university treasurer, among other roles.

Members of the search committee include recently-hired Provost Marten denBoer, Faculty Council President Michaela Winchatz, Staff Council President Rob Ryan, Student Government Association President Vanessa Cadavillo and Jay Braatz, Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M.’s chief of staff.