The current head of Quebec's human rights commission has been named the next president of the University of Ottawa.

Jacques Frémont will succeed outgoing president Allan Rock when his term expires at the end of June 2016, the university announced Wednesday afternoon.

In addition to becoming the university's 30th president, Frémont will also serve as vice-chancellor, the university said.

Frémont, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Montreal, became president of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse in 2013.

He was appointed unanimously, the university said.

Frémont takes over for Rock, who has been the University of Ottawa's president since 2008.