Davidson College’s top academic officer Clark G. Ross said Tuesday he will step down next summer after 15 years in the job. In an email to the college community Tuesday afternoon, Ross, 62, said he’s ready for a long awaited sabbatical. He also said it’s time to step aside so President Carol Quillen can appoint a new long-term academic leader for a coming major fundraising campaign and discussions about the college’s goals.

Dean Ross, whose official titles are dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs, said he will step down July 1, 2013. After a year off, he plans to return to teaching under another of his titles, the college’s Johnston Professor of Economics.

A Davidson College spokesman said he expected the college would begin an “extensive search” for a successor soon, though nothing has been announced. Dean Ross said he would be willing to stay on past July 1 if a replacement isn’t found.

Dean Ross’s tenure has been long for a dean of faculty, last through four presidents – Bobby Vagt, Tom Ross, John Kuykendall and President Quillen.

During his tenure, he reorganized the faculty, appointing a handful of new associate deans to provide added oversight of academic administration, international programs, curriculum, and faculty and student support.

Meanwhile, the college recently came out No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking’s for having the best undergraduate teaching among liberal arts colleges.

Dean Ross said the time seemed right to step aside. “While institutions do benefit from stability in leadership, all institutions, from time to time, also benefit from changes in leadership. With new leadership comes a fresh look at the institution; new ideas can be advanced and assessed; existing practices can be scrutinized and affirmed or changed,” he said in his email to the community.

Read Dean Ross’s note on the college website, Davidson.edu