Who should replace Ann Curry if she does end up leaving “Today.” The New York Post‘s Linda Stasi argues that it should be the co-anchor of the fourth hour of the program Hoda Kotb.

Kotb is a female Matt Lauer — smart, funny and a riveting TV presence. Both are anchors you’d want when it comes time to announce the end of the world — and, failing that, fry meatballs with the chef du jour on a slow news day.

As it happens, Kotb spoke to a classroom full of high school student-journalists Thursday. The ever-diligent students asked Kotb about the Curry rumors, though the anchor gracefully sidestepped the question.

“In life, you don’t really know what’s coming up,” Kotb said at Loyola University in New Orleans. “I’m actually joyful where I am.”