The Co-Lin Board of Trustees on Thursday chose Jane Hulon to succeed the college’s current president, Ronnie Nettles, upon his retirement July 1.

Nettles tendered his resignation in November, and, since December, a committee has been sifting through applications for his replacement.

The board elected to restrict the application process to current Co-Lin employees, and Hulon — who has served as the vice president of the school’s Wesson campus for 10 years — was selected to become the college’s eighth president by a unanimous vote.

“I’m extremely grateful for the confidence that the Board of Trustees has shown in me and am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Co-Lin in a presidential capacity,” she said in a statement released by the college.

A request by The Daily Leader to interview Hulon after the board meeting was denied.

Co-Lin was founded as Copiah-Lincoln Junior College in 1928, and Hulon will become the institution’s first female president.

She holds a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctorate in higher education administration from Mississippi State University. She is also a past president of the Mississippi Academic Officers Association and a prior member of the Wesson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Hulon has top-level administrative experience, and she previously served as Co-Lin’s vice president of instructional services, academic dean of instruction and director of planning and research.

According to Board Chairman Eugene Bates, Hulon was chosen from a pool of qualified candidates, and Nettles said he expects her to make an outstanding president.

“My dedication to the outstanding student body and dedication employees has been unwavering,” Hulon said in a statement released by Co-Lin. “It will be an honor to follow in the footsteps of phenomenal educational leaders.”