Former Colby College President William “Bro” Adams has been confirmed as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Following Wednesday’s vote, Adams will become the 10th chairman of the endowment, which is an independent grant-making agency of the government. The humanities endowment supports research, education and preservation programs.

“During his 14 years at Colby, Bro demonstrated a commitment to the humanities that was manifest in many ways, most notably in the dramatic expansion of the Colby College Museum of Art and in the development of the Center for the Arts and Humanities,” said dean of faculty and Academic Vice President Lori Kletzer. “We’re thrilled that Bro’s confirmation went so smoothly, and we at Colby look forward to watching him do great things for the nation’s cultural agency.”

Adams was president of Colby College from 2000 until his retirement last month.

The National Endowment for the Humanities funds is a government agency that provides funding cultural programs nationwide.

In nominating Adams in April, President Barack Obama said Adams “brings demonstrated leadership and decades of experience as an administrator at major universities and liberal arts institutions.”

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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