Chico State University knows who will be replacing retiring President Manuel Esteban for at least the next several months: Provost Scott McNall.

On Tuesday, the California State University board of trustees announced McNall, who is also the Chico State vice president for academic affairs, will be the interim president until a permanent replacement for Esteban is selected.

"I am pleased Chancellor (Charles) Reed and the board of trustees have shown their faith in my ability to provide leadership for the campus on an interim basis," said McNall after the announcement.

The CSU trustees have a search committee looking for Esteban's permanent replacement, but they do not anticipate seeing the new president named before January 2004, and Chancellor Reed said the new president might want to delay taking office for some time thereafter.

The shift in positions from provost/vice president of academic affairs to the top slot will result in a substantial raise for McNall for the time he is interim president.

As provost, McNall made $164,028 a year, and as interim president he will make the equivalent of $208,000 a year for the period he holds the post.

"My role is to continue to develop high-quality learning environments, build on the good things Manuel has done, and provide a smooth transition for the next president," said McNall.

McNall, 62, was appointed to the provost's position by President Esteban in 1994. Before coming to Chico, he was the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Toledo, Ohio.

The interim president is taking the post in the face of one of the grimmest state budgets in memory.

The chancellor has called the state's fiscal crisis the "mother of all budget deficits."

"This is a tough time to manage, and trying to figure out the budget and make decisions, and that is daunting," said McNall in an interview with the Enterprise-Record.

When his appointment was announced to a Tuesday afternoon session of the Chico Sate Academic Senate, McNall responded to the applause by saying, "Believe me, I'm going to need your help."

McNall told the paper being an interim president under the current budget conditions will be challenging.

He said he is going to have to make decisions "carefully, very carefully."

McNall said a person in his position must make sure "you consult with as many people as possible before taking a position, because it is going to affect the future of the campus."

"I need to remember the word 'interim' is in front of my name and do what I said - that is prepare a smooth transition for the new president," said McNall.

He also said, if Esteban "would allow it and would encourage it," McNall plans on seeking the former president's advice regularly.

McNall called Esteban an "exceptional mentor" for him.

He also said when the new president is selected, that person needs to go slow in making any sweeping changes at Chico State.

The new president, according to McNall, will "have to understand the culture of the campus," and will need to "consult, not just with Manuel, but with others who have a deep commitment to the institution."

McNall was one of three interim presidents appointed Tuesday by the CSU Board of Trustees.

Also named to temporary posts were Joseph N. Crowley, president emeritus of the University of Nevada, Reno, who will assume the interim position at San Jose State University, and Roy McTarnaghan, founding president and president emeritus of Florida Gulf Coast University, who will take the interim job at San Marcos Sate University.

Crowley will be paid $222,450 annual salary for his term in office, and McTarnaghan will receive $208,000.