HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Marshall University has named Gary White as its interim president following the sudden death of university president Stephen Kopp.

The Huntington school’s board of governors selected White at an emergency meeting on Monday to lead the university while its board conducts a search for a new president.

White’s tenure begins Thursday and the search for a permanent replacement is expected to take up to nine months. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission must approve the appointment.

Kopp suffered a fatal heart attack on Dec. 17. He was 63.

White has been executive vice president of Blackhawk Mining LLC since October. The Marshall graduate from Logan previously served on the university’s board, as well as the West Virginia Board of Education.