Western Washington University’s vice president of university relations and community development plans to retire Dec. 31.

Steve Swan, who came to Western in 2008, said he decided to announce his retirement now to provide continuity during the first part of the administration of Western’s next president.

Western President Bruce Shepard plans to retire in June.

“It is an honor to be a part of the Western community and a privilege to work with the exceptional people who are Western. But I realize the time is right for me to move on to the next phase of my life and to do some of the things I have not had time to do,” Swan said in a statement.

Swan came to Western from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where he was the assistant chancellor for University Advancement from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2004 to 2009. In between he was the president of Ultimate Sports Apparel of Green Bay, a company he founded in 2000.

Before moving into administration, he was an assistant men’s basketball coach under former UW-Green Bay Head Coach Dick Bennett from 1985 to 1995. He was the sports information director, men’s basketball recruiter and an assistant football coach at UW-Stevens Point from 1977 through 1985.

Swan, who is president-elect of the Board of Directors of the Whatcom Community Foundation and active in his church and other civic organizations, said he will continue living in Bellingham.