A questionnaire was sent to 282 presidents of eastern seaboard public and private two-year institutions to investigate a variety of personal and professional characteristics. Study findings, based on 204 returned questionnaires, indicated that these presidents were predominately white males, married, from middle-class families with the Ed.D. degree earned at a large public university. They began their careers in elementary-secondary schools, accepted the position of president because of the educational and professional challenges, and since then their careers had centered on the two-year college. The presidents tended to enjoy similar hobbies; belong to similar external organizations; read similar newspapers, journals and books; and have spouses with similar characteristics. Less than 10% of respondents were women, the majority of whom (63%) were presidents of private women's Catholic junior colleges. The study found the presidency to have been extensively professionalized in a short time span, with many and diverse career sequences leading to it. Study significance and purpose, a review of literature, methodology, data analysis, summary, conclusions, and recommendations are provided, with 34 tables and one figure supplementing the text. Appended material includes the study questionnaire and its cover and follow-up letters. (LH)