The Kansas Board of Regents has appointed a search committee to recommend candidates to replace retiring Fort Hays State University President Ed Hammond.

The committee will be chaired by Denis Miller, president of the FHSU Foundation, the fundraising arm of the university.

It will include FHSU student, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, Regent Robba Moran of Manhattan, former regent Janie Perkins of Garden City, and Andy Tompkins, president and chief executive officer of the regents.

The search committee will formulate the criteria for the position and select three to five candidates by April 22, 2014 for the board to consider.

Hammond, 69, will retire as president in June 2014 after 27 years in the position.

Regents members praised Hammond for his work at the school.

“In politics and in life if you can trust a guy it is truly worth gold and Ed Hammond is that guy,” said Regent Tim Emert.