Harvard University has named the Art Institute of Chicago’s Martha Tedeschi as new director of its art museums.

Tedeschi, currently serving as deputy director for Art and Research in Chicago, will formally assume her new position in July, taking over from Thomas Lentz, who stepped down as director last year following a 12-year tenure.

Tedeschi inherits a museum on the cutting edge after a 2014 US$350m (€314.6m, £244.4m) Renzo Piano-designed renovation and expansion of the complex, which has united three previously independent collections into one vast museum housing some 250,000 objects – one of the largest collections in the US.

In addition to running the museum and its staff of 225 people, Tedeschi will also operate 11 curatorial departments, as well as the museum’s libraries, archives, conservation science department and its academic programmes.

“Martha Tedeschi stood out among a pool of exceptional candidates," said Harvard provost Alan Garber. "We are pleased that she will lead the Harvard Art Museums into the future, while building on the superb work of Tom Lentz and the museums’ dedicated staff. The Harvard Art Museums are among the nation’s largest and most important art collections and are also a critical resource for research, teaching, and learning at Harvard. Martha’s passion for teaching students across all disciplines and experience in training the next generation of scholars, curators, and conservators will enable her to advance the museums’ academic and cultural missions.”