Shirley C. Raines, president of the University of Memphis, has announced that she will retire effective June 30 after 12 years of service.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the University of Memphis as president. These have been 12 of the most enjoyable, challenging and professionally fulfilling years of my life,” Raines said. “The university has a strong foundation for the future, and I am confident in its academic and administrative leadership.”

John Morgan, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, has named R. Brad Martin as interim president beginning July 1.

Raines became the university’s 11th president, and the first woman, to hold the position on July 1, 2001. Previously, she was vice chancellor for academic services and dean of the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. She is the author of 14 books and numerous journal articles, and is widely regarded as an expert in teacher education and early childhood education. Raines is a frequent speaker at community events, as well as Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management. For the last six years, she has been a keynote speaker for Harvard’s Institute for Presidents and Chancellors.

Raines has led the University of Memphis through a period of phenomenal growth. Since her appointment as president, enrollment has grown to more than 22,000 students with the university awarding 4,033 degrees in 2012, the most in its history.

The establishment of the University of Memphis Research Foundation, along with the university’s focus on engaged scholarship in the community, has doubled the number of sponsored research grants and contract awards since the beginning of Raines’ tenure. She spearheaded the creation of the Memphis Research Consortium, a collaborative partnership with Memphis-area researchers and corporations, and she was the first female president of the Greater Memphis Chamber.

Major focus areas of her work with students include an increased emphasis on student retention, expansion of the university’s Honors and Emerging Leaders programs, the creation of a nationally-recognized internship program, development of living-learning residential and curricular learning communities throughout campus, and the establishment of the University of Memphis Lambuth Campus.