A new chief of police was named for the University Police Department on Wednesday.

According to the police department, pending the University Board of Trustees’ approval, Barbara O’Connor,, will permanently fill the vacancy Oliver Clark left in 2005 when he retired.

O’Connor is chief of police and director of public safety at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Currently, Jeff Christensen is filling this void as interim chief of police.

Christensen said he was confident with the University’s choice.

“I’m comfortable they selected a qualified individual,” he said. “I trust the search process and selection.”

According to the University of Massachusetts’ public safety Web site, as Chief of Police O’Connor manages the safety of more than 35,000 people including 11,000 resident students.

“We’re happy to have her and anxious for her to get here,” Christensen said.