The university on Monday announced that Hilary Link, vice provost at Barnard College in New York, will become the dean of Temple Rome.

Link joined Barnard in 2002 and has been the dean of study abroad and dean for international programs before becoming the vice provost in 2012, according to Barnard.

President Neil Theobald said in a statement that her leadership in study abroad was one of the qualities that made her a valuable candidate for the position.

“To guide our Rome campus as it embarks on its next half century, Temple needed someone with a unique combination of global vision, leadership in international higher education and on-the-ground experience in Italy,” Theobald said. “We’ve found that person in Hilary Link.”

“As Temple continues to expand its reach and influence in Italy and beyond, we are fortunate to welcome a leader with as distinguished a reputation as Hilary Link,” Provost Hai-Lung Dai added in the announcement.

Link holds a Ph.D. in Italian language and literature from Yale University and she was the director of student scholar programs at New York University prior to moving to Barnard.

Link replaces Kim Strommen, who served as the dean for 22 years until this past summer, according to the university. Maria Ponce de Leon took over as interim dean after Strommen’s departure and Link will start as dean on Dec. 21.

Sean Carlin can be reached at sean.carlin@temple.edu or follow on Twitter @SeanCarlin84.