ATHENS, Ohio (AP): Ohio University’s president says he’s going to retire next year when his contract expires.

Roderick McDavis made the announcement Thursday before a standing room only crowd. He says he’ll step down on June 30, 2017.

McDavis has been in office for 12 years. That makes him the longest-serving sitting president at a major public university in the state.

Sandra Anderson, chairwoman of the university’s board of trustees, lauded the university’s first black president for what she called “achievements of historical magnitude,” that include three named academic colleges, record enrollment growth and a successful $500 million capital campaign.

McDavis says his time as president has been the best 12 years of his career. He didn’t speak to reporters after his address.