British actress Emma Watson is the new Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N.’s gender-equality arm, U.N. Women, the organization announced Monday.

The Harry Potter alumna and recent graduate of Brown University is the first ambassador appointed under the leadership of Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Under Secretary-General and executive director of U.N. Women.

“Women’s rights are something so inextricably linked with who I am, so deeply personal and rooted in my life that I can’t imagine an opportunity more exciting,” Watson, who will work on the organization’s women’s-empowerment campaign, HeForShe, said in a statement.

Mlambo-Ngcuka said Watson’s “intellect and passion” as well as her experience promoting girls’ education in countries such as Bangladesh and Zambia will help the organization spread its messages around the world.

“I still have so much to learn, but as I progress I hope to bring more of my individual knowledge, experience and awareness to this role,” Watson said.

Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com.