Sian Leah Beilock, a cognitive scientist and current president of Barnard College, has been named Dartmouth’s 19th president. She will succeed Philip J. Hanlon, president of the college since 2013, in July 2023.

Beilock, 46, is the first woman elected to lead Dartmouth in the institution’s over 250-year history.

“Sian is a leader with the aspirational vision to build our research enterprise, further our tradition of excellence in undergraduate education, and expand our global impact; she embraces the teacher-scholar model and brings experience from a world-class R1 institution as well as a distinctive liberal arts college,” said Elizabeth Cahill Lempres, chair of the board of trustees. “Sian’s election in this, our 50th year of coeducation at Dartmouth, was enthusiastic and unanimous.”

At Barnard, Beilock has enhanced STEM research and teaching programs to parallel the institution’s highly regarded arts and humanities programs. She also increased diversity among students, faculty and staff. Almost half of Barnard students identify as women of color.

Before joining Barnard, Beilock served as executive vice provost of the University of Chicago, where she was the Stella M. Rowley Professor of Psychology and an officer of the university.

She is one of the world’s leading experts on the brain science behind “choking under pressure” and the brain and body factors influencing all types of performance, from test taking to public speaking to athletics. A particular focus of her work has been developing and implementing research-driven strategies to encourage women and girls in the fields of math and science.