After a months-long, nationwide search, the governing board of the University of California today will appoint a new leader for the nine-campus system.
The UC Board of Regents will meet privately with the winning candidate and announce the appointment at a meeting in Oakland this afternoon, officials said.

Outgoing President Richard C. Atkinson will step down from the post in October after eight years.

Selecting the new president has been a closely guarded process. A UC spokesman said the winner had been chosen from more than 200 nominees.

Among the candidates rumored to be in the running on Tuesday were UC San Diego Chancellor Robert C. Dynes, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor M.R.C. Greenwood and UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry T. Yang.

Gov. Gray Davis was involved throughout the search and supports the committee's recommendation, said spokeswoman Hilary McLean. UC spokesman Michael Reese said the nine-member selection committee worked closely with advisory groups made up of faculty, students and UC alumni to whittle down the list of nominees.

Atkinson steered the system through dramatic changes in its admissions process, including a voter-backed initiative that banned consideration of race and ethnicity. He also pushed to eliminate the SAT, arguing that the test was not a good predictor of student achievement.