Pittsburg State University President Tom Bryant announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the academic year after nine years as president.

Kansas Board of Regents chairwoman Donna Shank said in a statement that she offered her sincerest gratitude to Bryant for his 38 years of service at Pittsburg as a professor and administrator.

“It’s incredibly difficult to imagine Pittsburg State without Tom Bryant,” she said. “However, I sincerely wish Tom and his wife, Koeta, all the very best as they move into retirement.”

The Board of Regents will likely begin its search for a new president at its September meeting.