Jacquelyn A. Mattfeld, dean of faculty and academic affairs at Brown University, was selected last Wednesday as the new president of Barnard College.

Mattfeld said yesterday that she is excited about the new position but realizes she is accepting "a very tough and challenging job."

"Barnard has a lot of problems common to private women's colleges, but it also has many unique strengths," Mattfeld said. She added that she would prefer to study Barnard's problems, particularly the nature of the school's relationship with Columbia College, before proposing any specific solutions.

Helene Kaplan, co-chairman of the Barnard presidential search committee, yesterday described Mattfeld as "an outstanding candidate with a demonstrated record of concern for women's education." She said the committee unanimously recommended Mattfeld to the Barnard board of trustees.