Regents of the University of North Texas System have announced, Ronald T. Brown, 60, as the sole finalist for the post of president for the University of Texas, Dallas.

If selected, Brown will be replacing John Ellis Price, who will step down in August after leading the university for three years. Price was the first president of the Dallas campus.

The system, however, will have to wait for 21 days to make an official appointment under the state's law.

Brown, a pediatric psychologist, is currently serving as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at the Wayne State University, Detroit.

Earlier, he was the dean of the College of Health Professions and Social Work and interim dean of the school of dentistry at Temple University, Philadelphia.

Brown increased student enrolments, philanthropy and research funding and raised more than $20 million in the university's capital campaign.

He also worked in varied administrative posts in public and private institutions such as Emory University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Adelaide.

"Dr. Brown is exceptionally well-matched for UNT Dallas, with a strong personal academic record and solid experience at two large urban universities," UNT System Chancellor, Lee F. Jackson, told Dallas News.

Brown has also been honored with the Scholar of the Year Award, Mitchell I. Rubin Award for his contributions to the advancement of medical science in the field of pediatrics, Martin P. Levin Award for Mentorship and the Logan Wright Distinguished Research Award.

He completed his graduation in psychology from Emory University and received his doctorate from the Georgia State University.

Brown also attended the Management Development Program and the Institute for Management Leadership in Education at Harvard University.

With just over 2,000 students, University of Texas, Dallas, is the first public four-year university in the city,which started teaching in 2000.