By JIMMY LAWTON

SUNY Canton’s new acting president could be a candidate for a permanent position, a distinction not shared by the interim president announced last week at SUNY Potsdam.

SUNY Canton spokesman Greg Kie said Dr. Jeremy D. Brown, who was named acting president of SUNY Canton effective June 1, could potentially become the college’s new president, although there are currently no known plans to offer him the job.

Kie said the title “acting president” is different from an interim president in that an interim cannot be considered as a permanent replacement. “That’s outlined by SUNY,” he said.

Kie said he could not speculate on whether Brown will be considered as that will be handled by SUNY Central, but said he looked forward to working with Brown, who resides in the Canton area.

In June, SUNY Potsdam will also have a temporary top administrator. Dr. Dennis L. Hefner, formerly president of SUNY Fredonia, was called out of retirement to fill the position until a permanent president could be found.

SUNY Potsdam spokeswoman Alexandra Jacobs said Hefner would not be a candidate for a permanent position, but his experience made him a solid temporary leader for the school.

While neither Kie nor Jacobs know what the future will hold, both are hopeful that the colleges will retain their own presidents when positions are filled.

Both campuses are sharing services and staff, but have made clear they want to maintain separate president.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher credited both colleges for their efforts to share services. In December, she announced she would support separate presidencies for the colleges if they continue to find savings through shared services.

Jacobs said she is unsure when the searches for a permanent president will begin. She said the process is not yet under way, but expects it will take place over the next year.

SUNY Central appointed both of the temporary administrators last week.

Dr. Brown served as president of Dowling College (2011-2012) and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (2007-2011).

He also served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at SUNY Canton between 2003 and 2007. Brown holds a Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham, England.

His appointment as acting president of SUNY Canton is effective June 1, 2013, at an annual salary of $185,000.

Dr. Hefner served as president of SUNY Fredonia between 1996 and 2012. Prior to that, he served as vice chancellor for academic affairs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, since 1994.

He served as vice president for academic affairs and professor of Economics at California State University, San Bernardino, from 1990-94, and was transition team leader at CSU, Monterey Bay, in 1994.

Dr. Hefner also held a number of administrative and faculty positions at CSU, Chico, from 1976-90, the University of Maryland from 1970-72, and Washington State University from 1967-69.

In addition, he was director of research PAID Prescriptions, Inc. in California and an economist and social research analyst for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Dr. Hefner received a B.A., Economics, in 1967 from California State, Chico and an M.A., Economics, in 1969, and Ph.D., Economic, in 1971, from Washington State University.

His appointment as interim president of SUNY Potsdam is effective June 1, 2013, at an annual salary of $225,000.