Western Carolina University Chancellor John Bardo has withdrawn his name from the list of candidates being considered for the Presidency at West Virginia’s Marshall University.

In a statement issued early Monday morning, Bardo said that while Marshall is a fine school, it was not where he and his wife, Deborah, ultimately want to be.

“Deborah and I have done a great deal of soul searching. We were extremely impressed with the opportunities presented by Marshall and with the direct support of that institution demonstrated by the governor and major legislative leaders,” Bardo said. “West Virginia, through legislative action taken this year, has engaged its universities in a broad-based effort to build the economy of the state and of its sub regions. That vision – and that concrete action — is what made the Marshall position very attractive.

“At the same time, we cannot walk away from our commitments to the people of North Carolina, and especially to the people of Western North Carolina. Our hearts are in North Carolina,” Bardo said. “While personal career advancement might well involve accepting the challenge of leading a complex institution with doctoral status, I do not believe that our commitment to the people of North Carolina would best be served by our accepting a position in another state at this time. Therefore, I have notified the search committee at Marshall that I am withdrawing my name so they may more appropriately consider other candidates in light of Deborah’s and my decision.”

Bardo has been Western’s Chancellor for 10 years.