The field of 53 candidates hoping to be named president at Jefferson Davis Community College was narrowed to 12 this week by members of a presidential search committee.

Two Alabama hopefuls remain on the list with 10 other states represented by potential candidates.

Dr. Ronald R. Cromwell of Birmingham and Dr. Lee Taylor of Monroeville remain on the list of those being scrutinized by search committee members.

Sherry Martin, director of personnel at Jefferson Davis Community College, said the process is moving along with a recommendation for the position expected by the end of October.

“The search committee will meet next week on Sept. 21 to narrow the field of 12 down to 5,” Martin said. “We will be holding a reception at the Brewton campus of JD on Oct. 5 for the five finalists.”

Martin said the reception is open to the community to meet and greet the potential candidates for the top spot at Jefferson Davis Community College.

“Following the reception, the committee will meet on our Brewton campus on Oct. 6 to interview the five remaining candidates,” Martin said. “The top three candidates following that round of interviews will then proceed to an interview with the chancellor.”

Martin said the chancellor will then make a decision on the top candidate and make a recommendation to the monthly meeting of the Department of Postsecondary Education board.

“That recommendation will be made at the October meeting of the board,” Martin said. “That is usally the last Thursday of the month.”

The 11-member search committee is made up of two faculty members and one support staff member from the searching institution (JDCC), two statewide members, one chancellor appointed member and five members selected by the state school board representative of the searching facility.

Those serving on the committee include Frieda Lowery, an accountant on the Brewton campus; David Quarker, masonry instructor and technical division chair on the Atmore campus; Robert Welling, drafting and design instructor on the Brewton campus; Gary Branch, president of Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette; Dean Argo, director of government relations and communications as appointed by the Department of Postsecondary Education; Dale Ash, vice president of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Atmore; Mike Godwin, an attorney with Otts, Moore, Coale, Godwin and Sterns in Brewton; Rosemary Jernigan, retired of Brewton; Carol Crook, retired of Atmore; and Tim Martin, president of Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority of Atmore.

Candidates who remain under consideration include Dr. Robert Anderson of Heber, Ariz., Dr. Daniel A. Bain of Independence, Ark., Dr. Barbara R. Beebe of Frostburg, Md., Dr. Paul F. Gasparro of Shawnee, Okla., Dr. Angeline Godwin of Hattiesburg, Miss., Dr. Peter G. Jordan of Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Frances L. Moore of Roseburg, Ore., Dr. Stuart Savin of Lancaster, Penn., Dr. Marlene A. Tignor of Cheyenne, Wyo., Dr. Richard Underbakke of East Moline, Ill., Cromwell and Taylor.

Kathleen Hall was named interim president by officials with the Alabama Board of Education following the retirement of Susan McBride in December 2010. Hall also serves at the dean of instruction for JDCC.