Robert Spuhler, who has served as interim president of Colorado Mountain College since November 2002, will officially be named the college’s new president in mid-October.

Under state law, the college’s board of trustees must wait 14 days between announcing the finalist or finalists for the post, and offering the job.

In a speech to college staff a month ago, Spuhler joked that he was “interim president for life.”

Now it’s up to Spuhler, a Glenwood Springs resident, to decide whether to accept the offer. If he does, he’ll become the seventh president of the college, which serves nine western Colorado counties.

In June, the trustees voted to pursue a new president by searching within college ranks first.

At their Sept. 5 board meeting, the trustees heard from CMC faculty, staff and residents of its communities to design a presidential search profile based on the college’s uniqueness, goals, needs, and leadership strengths.

The trustees have determined that Spuhler fits this profile, said CMC spokesman Joe Marquez.

Spuhler previously served as vice president of CMC. He helped build 11 residence halls and academic centers on various CMC campuses, said Marquez.