Bradley University in Peoria has announced President Gary Roberts will retire next year.
Roberts will depart when his contract expires in May 2020, capping a 4 1/2-year stint heading his alma mater.
The comparatively brief tenure for Roberts was not unexpected. He was planning his retirement when he was recruited by Bradley after heading Indiana University's McKinney School of Law.
Roberts noted Monday he was 72 years old and he and his wife want to have some healthy years to enjoy life and "check several items off our bucket list."
His tenure as the school's 11th president began in January 2016. Before Indiana, Roberts taught and was an administrator for 24 years at Tulane University's law school.
The search for Roberts' successor will be chaired by Bradley board members U.S. District Judge James Shadid and Kathi Holst.