Harvard University, the world’s wealthiest school with a $32.7 billion endowment, hired Michael Ryan as head of public equity on its investment team.

Ryan, most recently founder and chief investment officer at MDR Capital Management in New York, will begin in September, the university said Friday. He will report to Stephen Blyth, managing director and head of public markets at Harvard Management Co., the Boston-based unit that oversees investments.

Ryan previously served as co-chief executive officer of the hedge fund JAI Capital Management, and also worked at Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Harvard said.

Jane Mendillo, the president and CEO of Harvard’s management company, said in June she is leaving at year end.