A Kansas University alumnus will return to his alma mater to lead the School of Fine Arts, KU officials announced Wednesday.

Steve Hedden, who received three degrees in music education from KU, will replace Toni-Marie Montgomery, who will leave in June to become dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University. Hedden starts July 1.

Hedden currently is dean of the College of Music at Wichita State University, where he has been since July. Prior to that, he held several positions, including vice dean, at the University of Arizona’s College of Fine Arts, where he worked since 1987. He also taught 15 years at the University of Iowa and one year each at KU and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Hedden graduated with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 1964, 1969 and 1971, respectively.