"We've both been dreaming about this for a long time," he said.
Still, they've grown to love the college and Hagerstown over the years, and it will be difficult to say goodbye, Larson said.
He won't be leaving his post in Frederick until Nov. 17, but Larson said he's already getting a jump on his new responsibilities.
The college hasn't had an active president for nine months, so they're anxious for him to get in and get going, he said.
Larson said he's excited to take on the responsibility of looking at the "total picture" of the college - which has about 6,000 students - and representing it in the community.
"That's a nice new focus for me," he said.
Larson has been at FCC since 1977, when he took over as director of institutional development. He was promoted to his current job in 1979.
He previously was director of community services at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, Mass.
Larson earned a master's degree in government and politics and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Maryland at College Park. He received bachelor's degrees in English and government from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.
The remaining four finalists for FCC President Lee Betts' job are Carol Spencer of DeSoto, Texas; Patricia Donohue of St. Louis; Charlene Nunley of Olney, Md.; and Patricia Stanley of Irvine, Texas.
Betts will retire at the end of December after 11 years of heading the college.
