St. Thomas board of trustees created history by appointing the first female and a non-priest president in 22 years to lead the 128-year-old Catholic institution.

Dr. Julie Sullivan, 55, has been named the next president of University of St.Thomas, after conducting a nationwide search.

This year, the board considered female presidential candidates for the first time as the university made amendments to its bylaws, 2011, in order to include maximum eligible candidates and employ the strongest person for the job.

As a result, both men and women are allowed to serve the top administrative post of this university. However, the president must be a practicing Catholic.

Rev. Dennis Dease, 70, will be retiring June 30, after 22 years as the 14th president of Minnesota's largest private college.

Currently, Sullivan is the chief academic and budget officer at University of San Diego, since 2005.

Earlier Sullivian worked in varied administrative posts in Oklahoma, North Carolina and California.

"Julie is tailor-made for the position. She has the academic experience, business acumen and personal qualities we need in our next president," John M. Morrison, a trustee who served as chair of the search committee, said.

Out of the 194 members of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, 72 are led by priests and nuns while 122 are headed by commoners, which include 39 women.