The leader of the agricultural and life sciences programs at North Carolina State University will become the next president of Kansas State University.

The Kansas Board of Regents announced Thursday that it has selected Richard H. Linton to lead Kansas State, following the retirement later this year of President Richard Myers.

Linton currently is the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. While leading the approximately 4,200-student college, Linton has overseen initiatives related to plant sciences and food processing that are expected to create new jobs in the private sector and foster support for local agriculture producers, the Regents said in a release announcing Linton.

“Richard Linton has proven himself as a forward-thinking leader who knows how to seize opportunities in higher education’s rapidly evolving landscape,” said Regents Chair Cheryl Harrison-Lee. “He shares the Regents’ strategic vision of higher education as a powerful force uniquely capable of revitalizing our economy. We are excited to have him as the next president of K-State and watch him lead the university into the future.”

The Regents in their announcement did not provide a start date for Linton. Myers is scheduled to retire from the post at the end of the year. The announcement also did not provide details on salary and compensation for Linton.