A University of Kansas graduate has been chosen to become the next president of Washburn University in Topeka.

JuliAnn Mazachek, who received her doctorate of accounting from KU, most recently had served as the president of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Prior to her tenure in Texas, Mazachek spent 30 year at Washburn in various leadership roles, including serving as its chief academic officer, the leader of the university’s alumni association, and a member of the school’s accounting faculty.    

She will become the first woman president of the university, which has about 6,000 students on its 160 acre campus in Topeka.

“Washburn University is such an important part of my family,” Mazachek said in a release. “I am incredibly honored to lead this institution as we build on a foundation of academic excellence and on our unwavering commitment to students and their success. Innovation, growth and collaboration with community partners are among my key priorities as, together, we continue to move Washburn forward toward an even brighter future.”

Mazachek replaces Jerry Farley who served as the university’s president for 25 years before retiring Sept. 30. Mazachek will begin serving as president on Feb. 1.