University of Alabama trustees selected Karen Brooks to lead the board, making her the first woman to hold the role in 183 years.
The Tuscaloosa News reports that the board members approved Brooks as president pro tempore on Friday. She replaces Paul Bryant Jr., who served the three maximum terms allowed by the board's bylaws.
Brooks says she has huge shoes to fill.
Board members also approved budgets for the system's three campuses and central offices, and a resolution to increase the budget for renovations at the University of Alabama's Sewell-Thomas Stadium to $42.6 million from $35 million.
Officials say bids for renovating and adding on to the baseball stadium were higher than expected.