ATLANTA -- The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, has been named a presidential distinguished professor at Emory University, school officials announced Monday.

It's the first university appointment the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner has accepted, according to a statement from Emory.

The Dalai Lama will deliver his inaugural lecture during an Oct. 20-22 visit to Emory, during which he will participate in a conference on science and spirituality.

"To have a colleague of the Dalai Lama's stature in our community will be a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to our faculty, staff and students as we strive to realize the vision of educating both the heart and mind for the greater good of humanity," says Emory President James Wagner in a statement on the school's Web site.

"I look forward to offering my services to the Emory students and community. I firmly believe that education is an indispensable tool for the flourishing of human well-being and the creation of a just and peaceful society, and I am delighted to make a small contribution in this regard through this appointment," said the Dalai Lama in the statement.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to make a speech at Centennial Olympic Park on Oct. 22.

Emory is setting up a scholarship in the Dalai Lama's name for Tibetan students attending Emory undergraduate and graduate schools.

Tenzin Gyatso was proclaimed the 14th Dalai Lama at age 5 and became Tibet's leader at 15. He fled into exile in India following an abortive 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.

His efforts to preserve Tibetan culture and promote Tibet's liberation earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.