NUI Galway's governing authority has appointed Prof Jim Browne as its new president for a 10-year term.
Prof Browne (55), a graduate of NUI Galway (NUIG) and father of four, is a former dean of engineering of the college. He has been registrar and deputy president for the past seven years.
NUIG says he has a "record of achievement in academic leadership, strategic planning and change management" within the college and has published more than 200 papers and 15 books.
He was awarded the degree DSc by the University of Manchester for published work in 1990, and is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and the Irish Academy of Engineers.
Prof Browne succeeds Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh on March 6th next, when he will become the 12th president of NUIG.
Dr Noel Dorr, chairman of the selection board appointed by NUIG's governing authority, described Prof Browne as "a distinguished academic with very wide international contacts and experience of other universities in Europe, the US, Asia and Latin America".
"He has a personal record of research and an understanding of the importance of promoting it in the university. He combines this with a strong commitment to upholding the traditional values of the university across all of the sciences and the humanities and to developing and enhancing its primary role as an educational institution."
The post is "one of very particular responsibility", Dr Dorr said. "It calls for leadership of a high order in shaping the development of the university over the decade ahead. In particular it calls for a capacity to respond creatively and sensitively to regional and national needs while respecting and upholding the traditional educational function of the university as such." The selection was unanimous, Dr Dorr added.