EASTON, Pa. (AP) — Lafayette College has named its first female president.

The school on Wednesday said Middlebury College professor Alison Byerly will be its 17th president. She’ll take over July 1.

Byerly is replacing Daniel Weiss, who’s leaving to become president of Haverford College in suburban Philadelphia. Byerly says in a statement released by the school that she’s honored and excited by the appointment.

The chairman of Lafayette’s board of trustees, Edward Ahart, says Byerly has a “collaborative, open and communicative style and brings great passion and humor” to the job.

A native of Glenside, Pa., Byerly has been at Middlebury for 23 years.

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