Hobart and William Smith Colleges have a new president: the former president, Mark D. Gearan.

Gearan was president from 1999 to 2017. He was succeeded first by Gregory J. Vincent, who resigned in April 2018, after an anonymous email alleged several instances of plagiarism in his doctoral dissertation. A subsequent review of the dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania said Vincent could keep it, as long as he made revisions to it.

Vincent was succeeded by Joyce P. Jacobsen, who served for three years. In a letter to the campus, she said the change was because “for some time, I have felt a pull back into the traditional role of an academic.” She will become a professor of economics at Hobart and William Smith.

Officials stressed that Gearan’s appointment was not an interim one, but permanent.

“There is no one more qualified to lead Hobart and William Smith into our next 200 years than Mark,” wrote Craig R. Stine, chair of the board, and Naylor Brooks, the vice chair. “He has the experience, aptitude, passion and creativity to make a tremendous difference, and is committed to our future.”

Gearan said, “I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with this responsibility, to our alumni, alumnae, parents and the Geneva community who are committed to the colleges’ future, and to the faculty, staff, coaches and students who are the heart of the institution and who work so hard to create an outstanding teaching and learning environment.”