The University of Georgia has hired a longtime administrator as its president.

The Georgia Board of Regents on Monday voted unanimously to hire provost Jere Morehead to succeed Michael Adams.

Morehead is a 1980 graduate of the University of Georgia Law School. He has also served as senior vice president for academic affairs. He becomes the 22nd university president.

A presidential search committee named Morehead as the sole finalist for the position last week. In mid-December the committeeannounced the field had been narrowed to nine candidates - five of whom were college presidents.

Adams has praised Morehead for his integrity and institutional knowledge of the university. Adams is set to retire in June.