The University of Hawaii said Wednesday it plans to appoint UH-Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney to a system vice president role, and will launch a national search for the Hawaii island position in the fall.

Straney, who has served as Hilo chancellor since 2010, is expected to become vice president of academic planning and policy, effective Aug. 1, replacing Risa Dickson, who joined the UH administration in early 2015.

UH said Dickson notified the university last year of her intention to return to faculty at the end of the 2016-17 academic year.

“Don has done an outstanding job at UH-Hilo, and I know he will excel as our vice president of academic planning and policy, a position critical to the entire UH system as we continue to improve our collaborative efforts to meet the needs of the entire state,” UH President David Lassner said in a statement. “Don has 38 years of proven higher education experience on campuses and within systems, including here in Hawaii.”

The university plans to launch a search for a permanent Hilo chancellor in the fall.

Marcia Sakai, Hilo’s vice chancellor for administrative affairs, will serve as interim chancellor. Both Sakai and Straney’s appointments are subject to approval by the UH Board of Regents at its July 20 meeting.