Higher education is the life’s blood of the economy in Massachusetts, so it’s no surprise that stories about searches, salaries, rankings and more are constantly in the news. While much of the focus lately seems to be on replacing the presidents at the University of Massachusetts, Suffolk University and the recently chosen president of Tufts University, there’s a search underway in the Merrimack Valley.

The search committee to replace David Hartleb the retiring president of Northern Essex Community College has just announced the names of the three finalists. A story in today’s  Eagle-Tribune notes the names including one who is currently a NECC administrator:

Lane Glenn, vice president of academic affairs at Northern Essex since 2006.

John O’Donnell, president of Stark State College in North Canton, Ohio, since 2004.

Brad Stewart, vice president and provost of Montgomery College-Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus in Maryland since 2005.

For more information on the process and backgrounds of the finalists read the full Eagle-Tribune article here.