Cal Poly Pomona’s first woman and first Black president on Tuesday announced her retirement at the end of the school year after 10 years at the helm.

Soraya M. Coley said in a Tuesday letter to the campus that she was “filled with deep gratitude for having this opportunity to serve.”

“However, I knew that ‘one day’ my work would conclude,” Coley wrote. “The time would come for me to step aside and enjoy precious time with my husband, Ron, who retired several years ago. And that time is now.”

In 2014, Coley became the university’s sixth president, first woman and first Blackadministrator to be appointed to the role. She succeeded J. Michael Ortiz, who retired in December 2014 after 12 years as president.

Coley has worked in the Cal State University system since 1981, spending time at Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Bakersfield as well as Cal Poly Pomona.

Before taking the top spot in Pomona, she served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Cal State Bakersfield and as dean of Cal State Fullerton’s College of Human Development and Community Service, as an administrative fellow and as a professor and chair of the Human Services Department at Cal State Fullerton.

Coley wrote that she was thankful for time spent on campus, from watching students graduate to seeing the success of her colleagues on a personal and professional level.

During her tenure, Coley helped develop the Care Center, essential basic needs services and made investments toward campus facilities, including construction of the Student Services Building and new student housing. The campus also launched Future Paths, a program aimed at helping students graduate.

“Our programming and initiatives in Student Affairs reflect broad awareness of the challenges, struggles and successes of our students,” Coley wrote.

The university established the Philanthropic Board, a group of alumni and community members focused on raising money for the campus and raising awareness of it in the community.

Coley was also involved in plans to launch the AI Hub, which will prepare the campus for the integration of artificial intelligence.

“Under her leadership, the university has been relentless in its work to advance student success through critical investments in academic advising, programs to increase belonging and promote well-being,” California State University Chancellor Mildred García said in a news release.

Cal State officials plan to look across the nation for Coley’s successor after creating a committee of campus and community members to lead the search.