RICHMOND, Ind. (AP): The president of eastern Indiana’s Earlham College is planning to retire after leading the school for six years.

David Dawson announced his decision Thursday, saying he’s been honored to lead the Quaker-affiliated private liberal arts college in Richmond. He plans to step down effective June 30, 2017.

The (Richmond) Palladium-Item reports a search committee aims to select Dawson’s replacement by the end of this year.

Dawson said soon after becoming president that he wanted to grow Earlham’s enrollment from 1,100 students to 1,600. However, enrollment has dipped slightly.

But the school says more than 360 students have enrolled for next fall as the largest new class in recent decades.

Dawson was a professor of religion and former provost at Pennsylvania’s Haverford College before coming to Earlham.