Linn-Benton Community College has announced the top two candidates in its search for a new college president.

The LBCC Board of Education selected Gregory J. Hamann, PhD, and Darlene G. Miller, EdD, from a pool of candidates, with input from a screening committee consisting of representatives from classified staff, management, faculty, student representatives and community members.

Hamann is president of Clatsop Community College in Astoria.

Miller recently served as president of Manchester Community College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Hamann's responsibilities at Clatsop include providing leadership and guidance to the college, securing state and federal funding, developing new or enhanced academic and career/technical programs, and developing community partnerships.

Hamann has a doctorate in educational leadership from Gonzaga University and a master's in counseling psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He also served as dean of administration at Northwest College, and at Whitworth College he served as director of administrative services, director of human resources and as associate dean of students.

Miller's responsibilites at Manchester included providing leadership for college activities and operations, directing development of the college strategic plan, advocating at local and national levels, and securing state and federal funding.

Miller has a doctorate of education from University of Massachusetts and a master's of science in biomedical engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She also served as vice president for workforce and economic development at Shoreline Community College, as dean of instruction for professional and technical programs and executive director of workforce development at Green River Community College, and as dean of business technology at Cuyahoga Community College.

Community College Search Services will conduct reference checks and assist with the final steps of the process. Final selection will be made by the LBCC Board and the new president will assume leadership of LBCC in January.

"The board was very pleased with the quality of the candidates and is looking forward to the final interviewing process," said Board Chairman Dick Running. "We appreciated the valuable input received from the screening committee."