ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- A committee searching for the University of Georgia's next president has narrowed the field of candidates to nine.

The committee's chairman, Regent and former state legislator Larry Walker, announced the shortened list on Monday.

Walker didn't reveal names of the nine candidates, but said all are currently in the academic world.

Officials said several have experience at large land-grant universities like UGA, and five are current college presidents. They said three are provosts, and one is the dean of a large school in a public university.

Current UGA President Michael Adams has said he will step down at the end of June.