Jesuit Father Joseph Lingan, the interim president of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., has been named the new rector of Georgetown University’s Jesuit community. He will succeed Jesuit Father John Langan on July 31.

“I have always been aware of Georgetown’s prominence among Jesuit universities,” said Fr. Lingan. “I am humbled to be asked to serve at Georgetown and look forward to becoming an active member of the university community.”

Lingan will be responsible for the university’s 65 Jesuits, who come from various parts of the United States and as far away as Europe and Africa.

“A lot of the work calls for conversations with the individual Jesuits, acting as a religious superior within the community,” Fr. Langan said, reflecting on his time as rector, “and that brings responsibility for the well-being and spiritual growth of the members.”

Prior to his post at Gonzaga, Lingan served as novice master for the Maryland, New England and New York Provinces of the Society of Jesus from 2003 to 2010.