Brian King, president of Cabrillo College in Aptos, and Linda M. Thor, president of Rio Salado College in Phoenix, Ariz., have been named as finalists for chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

The public is invited to meet the finalists at forums scheduled Nov. 18 and 19.

Thor and King were selected in a national search by a committee representing students, faculty, staff, trustees, community and administration of the 44,000-student community college district.

The new chancellor will replace Martha Kanter, chancellor from 2003 until last summer, when she was confirmed as U.S. Undersecretary of Education.

"I am very pleased with the excellent caliber of the finalists," said Betsy Bechtel, president of the Board of Trustees and a member of the search committee. "They were selected after a nationwide search and extensive interview sessions with the search committee, which worked diligently to identify applicants to lead our district."

King will visit Foothill and De Anza Nov. 18 and Thor will visit on Nov. 19, and three forums will be held on each day. They are from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the District Board Room at district offices on the Foothill campus, 12345 S. El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills; from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in Room 119 of the Administration Building at De Anza, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino; and from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 8338 in the Lower Campus Complex of Foothill.

More information about the applicants is available on the district's website.