Hobart and William Smith Colleges have named Wesleyan University provost Joyce Jacobsen as president.

The private upstate New York colleges, which operate under a single administration, announced the appointment on Friday. Jacobsen, an economist, will be the first woman to hold the position.

Jacobsen graduated from Harvard University and has advanced degrees from Stanford University and the London School of Economics. She was a full professor at Wesleyan before becoming the university's dean of social sciences and director of global initiatives. She has been provost and vice president of academic affairs since 2015.

Jacobsen will succeed Interim President Patrick McGuire, who was appointed following the resignation of Gregory Vincent.