Marlesa Roney, Kansas University’s vice provost of student success, will resign her position to take a new job as a professor of higher education in KU’s School of Education.

She will stay on as vice provost until a search for her replacement is complete.

In an email to faculty and staff, KU Provost Jeff Vitter praised Roney’s accomplishments as vice provost.

“While we’re thrilled for Marlesa to pursue this new opportunity, we’ll certainly miss her leadership within Student Success,” Vitter wrote.

Roney became the university’s first vice provost for student success in 2003, and helped bring together new services under the office’s umbrella, Vitter wrote.

“From new student orientation to registering for classes, academic advising and the writing center, there’s no question that the university — and especially our students — have benefited immeasurably from Marlesa’s expertise and enthusiasm,” he wrote.

Further details on the process of a search for a new vice provost for student success will be announced as they become available.

Roney, who teaches one education course a year in her current job, said she had always envisioned her ending her career as a teacher.

After spotting an opening in the department of educational leadership and policy studies, Roney said she began discussing the opportunity with the school.

She will work as a professor of the practice, which is a full academic year, non-tenure track position that is research-supported, but doesn’t require research.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity to continue to work at a university I love,” she said.

Roney became vice provost for student success in 2003 following a three-year tenure as vice president for student affairs at the University of Akron and a 19-year career at Purdue University, where she received her doctorate in student personnel administration.