SINGAPORE - The Singapore Management University (SMU) has appointed Professor Lily Kong, currently the vice-provost of academic personnel at the National University of Singapore (NUS), as its new provost.

Prof Kong, 50, will officially join SMU in September, after serving 24 years at NUS. The appointment also makes her the first female university provost here.

Prof Kong's research interests include geography, heritage and conservation and religion. She was also instrumental in setting up the Yale-NUS college.

At SMU, she will hold the Lee Kong Chian Chair Professorship of Social Sciences.

SMU president Arnoud De Meyer said Prof Kong's background is a "nice complement" to the university's focus on management, even as it strengthens its humanities subjects.

The university is looking at introducing more humanities modules for students.

Prof Kong added that she has "great familiarity" with the disciplines that SMU focuses on.

"I feel I can make a contribution both in terms of research, insight and impact on society and community, as well as in terms of the educational programmes that I can help to shape very directly for the benefit of the graduates, and Singapore," she said.