FRANKFORT, KY - Former Kentucky State University President Raymond M. Burse is returning as interim president next month.

Burse will step in lead at the Frankfort university following current President Mary Evens Sias' announcement May 9 that she is retiring.

KSU school officials said Burse's appointment runs through next June, or until a permanent president is choosen.

Burse was president of the university from 1982 to 1989. He then wen on to become an executive at General Electric Co., retiring in 2012. He is a 1973 graduate of Centre College, where he earned a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at the University of Oxford, majoring in organic chemistry. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978.

"Raymond is uniquely qualified to serve the institution at this juncture," Karen Bearden, chari of the KSU board of regents. "His knowledge of KSU, his commitment to higher eduction and his executive leadership experience will be assets during the 2014-2015 academic year."

In a statement, Burse said, "It is indeed an honor to be called on to serve KSU in this capacity, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities to help move KSU forward."