HOUSTON -- Texas Southern University is not rushing to fill the position of president, although the chairman of the Board of Regents said it is a priority, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

"You know, in order for this campus to heal, as you say, we got to have a 'uniter.' We've got to have somebody who can unite this campus who has a dynamic personality and who is committed to this job," Chairman Glenn Lewis said.

A search committee is in place, and Lewis hopes to fill the position by August 2008.

Meantime, the focus is on healing after a scandal.

"We have run into some difficulty, yes. But, again, this is a university that was born in adversity and has had to fight adversity its entire existence, and the old saying what does not kill you makes you stronger. And Texas Southern University continues to get stronger and stronger," said Lewis.

In the first interview since Dr. Priscilla Slade's mistrial verdict, Lewis told Local 2 he is not worried about the details surfacing again next year.

"People are going to be talking about it for years to come, and we can't really let that affect what we do as a board and how we try to move the university forward," Lewis said.

He said that it's not an easy job. Lewis flies in to Houston from Fort Worth regularly.

And so far, only five of the nine regents have been appointed.