COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri’s governing board has appointed a recently retired black senior administrator from its flagship campus to be the university system’s interim president.

The Board of Curators named 68-year-old Michael Middleton on Thursday to lead the four-campus university system until a permanent replacement is found.

Middleton takes over from Tim Wolfe, who resigned Monday amid student-led protests over his administration’s handling of racial complaints. The Columbia campus’ chancellor, R. Bowen Loftin, also announced Monday he would be leaving his position at year’s end for a new role at the school.

Middleton retired as deputy chancellor of the Columbia campus in August and became a deputy chancellor emeritus. He has been working part-time to assist Loftin design a plan to increase inclusion and diversity on campus.