LOWELL, Mass. — University of Massachusetts Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney announced Wednesday that she will step down next June at the end of the academic year.

Moloney, who has two degrees from the school, became the first woman to lead the campus when she was appointed in 2015, and helped oversee record gains in student enrollment, diversity, and graduation and retention rates. The university's faculty hiring, research expenditures, fundraising and economic development activities have all reached new highs during her tenure.

“I am grateful to have had the honor and privilege of serving as chancellor for the past six years and for eight years previously as executive vice chancellor. I will always treasure our time together and the many accomplishments we achieved during my 37-year tenure at UMass Lowell," she said in a statement.

UMass President Marty Meehan called Moloney an inspiration and a mentor to students.

“Chancellor Moloney’s nearly four decades of service to UMass Lowell, culminating with her superb leadership as chancellor, have been distinguished by her constant drive to expand educational opportunity for people and economic prosperity for a region that she has always called home,” Meehan said.

The school has about 18,000 students.

The university plans a national search for a successor.