Oregon’s largest community college has selected Jeremy Brown to be its next president. That means Brown has to back out of a job he accepted last month, at a college in New York.

Portland Community College officials hope to finalize a contract with Brown within a few weeks. PCC’s board vice chair, Deanna Palm is excited about the qualities Brown would bring.

“Somebody that has an ability to lead and move the college forward under difficult budgetary constraints. So, someone that’s an innovator, that sees opportunities,” Palm said.

Officials at the State University of New York at Canton had expected Brown to become their acting president.

PCC officials say Brown accepted that job last month, as he was visiting Portland as one of three finalists. SUNY officials just issued a statement expressing disappointment at losing Brown.

They plan to look for another acting president.

Brown was fired last September as president of Dowling College on Long Island.

He was one of several presidents to cycle through there quickly, as the college struggled financially.

This story originally appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting.