News Summary
The University of Texas System Board of Regents has selected John M. Zerwas as the finalist for chancellorship and James E. Davis for presidency at UT Austin. Both are currently in interim roles and have extensive backgrounds in higher education and healthcare. Their nominations were unanimously decided during the board meeting. The final approval for their appointments will occur in mid-August, adhering to a 21-day waiting period thereafter. The selection comes amidst political changes impacting Texas higher education, highlighting the UT System’s influence as the largest in the state.
Austin, Texas – The University of Texas System Board of Regents has announced the selection of John M. Zerwas as the sole finalist for the chancellorship and James E. Davis as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Texas at Austin. Both finalists are currently serving in interim roles; Zerwas as the Chancellor ad interim and Davis as the Interim President. The decision to nominate them was made unanimously during a board meeting held on July 21, 2025.
John M. Zerwas, who has been acting as the Chancellor ad interim since May 2025 following the departure of J.B. Milliken, has a long-standing career in healthcare and higher education. He has served as the Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for the UT System since October 2019, managing five health institutions. His legislative experience includes seven terms in the Texas House of Representatives, where he held key positions like chairing both the House Appropriations Committee and the House Committee on Higher Education. His commendable record has earned him praise from Board Chairman Kevin P. Eltife, who recognized his expertise in higher education, healthcare, and policy, reflecting confidence in his capabilities to lead the UT System.
Zerwas has expressed gratitude for being considered for the chancellorship and has emphasized a clear intention to enhance the University of Texas’s potential in the areas of education, discovery, and healthcare.
James E. Davis has also been serving as Interim President since February 2025, after the resignation of Jay Hartzell. His previous role as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at UT Austin involved significant responsibilities related to legal affairs and business strategies. Davis has a BA in history from UT Austin and holds a law degree from Harvard Law School. His professional background includes being a partner at Locke Lord and serving as a Deputy Attorney General for Texas. Eltife has acknowledged Davis’s leadership skills and his capability to manage complex initiatives effectively at UT Austin.
Both Zerwas and Davis will undergo a final approval process during the upcoming mid-August Board of Regents meeting. The approval will be subject to a 21-day waiting period following the board’s decision. In addition, the board has indicated plans to form a committee made up of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members, which will evaluate Davis’s candidacy before the final vote.
In a broader context, the landscape for Texas higher education has recently shifted due to political changes, including the enactment of Senate Bill 37 by Governor Greg Abbott. This legislation increases the powers of university governing boards, which may have implications for leadership dynamics at public universities across the state.
The UT System is a prominent entity in Texas, recognized as the largest public higher education system in the state, enrolling approximately 256,000 students across 14 academic and health institutions. The University of Texas at Austin serves as the flagship campus and is central to the system’s educational initiatives and research endeavors.
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Additional Resources
- Forbes: Interims Named Sole Finalists to Head Up U of Texas System
- Google Search: University of Texas leadership
- KVUE: University of Texas Leadership Role Finalists
- Encyclopedia Britannica: University of Texas
- Statesman: Regents Name Davis and Zerwas Sole Finalists for UT Top Positions
- Google News: UT System leadership 2025
- Houston Chronicle: UT System Regents Name Finalists
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