Roger L. Williams, associate vice chancellor for university relations at the University of Arkansas, will take over as executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association on June 1, the university announced this week.

Williams, who received three degrees from Penn State, will succeed Diane Ryan. She is stepping down after six years of heading up the alumni association, which is one of the largest in the nation.

Williams worked in various public relations jobs at Penn State beginning in 1978 and became assistant vice president and executive director of university relations in 1986, a post he held for nine years. Williams began working at Arkansas in 1998.