The Lawrence Arts Center may have a new CEO sooner than expected.

Joan Golden, chairwoman of the Arts Center’s board of directors, has been heading the search for current CEO Susan Tate’s replacement since mid-March, Golden told the Journal-World this week. Originally, Golden and Arts Center leaders planned to begin the search in August, as the Journal-World reported in January following Tate’s announcement of her upcoming retirement.

“With both Susan and the board realizing the situation in the first part of March, we decided there was nothing holding us back,” Golden said.

The interview process is already underway, and Golden hopes to “have our decision” by the end of June. Tate will officially retire when the new CEO arrives but will remain involved with the Arts Center’s major donors and outside ventures such as the Free State Festival and East Ninth project, Golden said.

Tate publicly announced her plans to retire, citing family business interests, in January. She joined the Lawrence Arts Center as CEO in 2009.