Austin, August 21, 2025
News Summary
The University of Texas at Austin has appointed James Davis as its new president after serving as interim president since February. This marks a historic transition as it’s the first time in 126 years that the university has appointed a president without traditional teaching experience. Alongside Davis, John M. Zerwas becomes the chancellor of the University of Texas System. With around 260,000 students across its campuses, UT aims to maintain its competitiveness and address ongoing challenges in higher education.
Austin
The University of Texas at Austin has officially named James Davis as its new president, following his tenure as the interim president since February 2024. This announcement was made by the University of Texas System on Wednesday.
Davis takes on the role effective immediately, alongside John M. Zerwas, who has been appointed as the chancellor of the University of Texas System. Both Davis and Zerwas were the only finalists considered after serving in interim positions prior to their appointment, with the decision receiving unanimous support from the system’s board of regents.
The University of Texas System, which encompasses 14 institutions and is the largest public higher education system in Texas, has approximately 260,000 students enrolled across its campuses. At UT-Austin, enrollment numbers for the fall of 2024 exceeded 53,800 students.
Background of Davis and His Role
Davis’s appointment follows the recent resignation of previous president Jay Hartzell, who cited political pressures as a contributing factor to his decision. Importantly, this marks a historic moment for UT-Austin, as this is the first time in 126 years that the university has appointed a president without conventional teaching experience.
Prior to his interim presidency, James Davis had a long-standing association with UT-Austin, having joined the university in 2018 as vice president for legal affairs and business strategies. He was later promoted to the role of chief operating officer in 2023. While Davis holds degrees from both UT-Austin and Harvard Law School, his professional background includes significant work in both the public and private legal sectors, including serving as deputy attorney general for Texas.
Achievements as Interim President
During his time as interim president, Davis managed several key initiatives, including overseeing the hiring of a new provost and facilitating UT’s move into the Southeastern Conference for athletics. He also concluded a comprehensive review initiated by Hartzell, leading to the discontinuation of the controversial “flags” program in favor of a new skills-focused initiative. His leadership efforts garnered strong support from a committee that included various university stakeholders.
Transition and Future Outlook
With Hartzell moving on to a role at Southern Methodist University, he will remain at UT-Austin as a faculty member during the transition. Notably, the UT System does not appear to be forming a search committee to find a permanent president at this time. The operational budget for the UT System for the year 2025 is projected to be around $30.9 billion.
Davis’s appointment solidifies his position as a key player in maintaining the university’s competitiveness and national standing amidst ongoing challenges in higher education, including faculty and student dissatisfaction regarding previous leadership decisions related to diversity programs.
Key Features of the Leadership Transition
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| New President | James Davis appointed as president effective immediately |
| New Chancellor | John M. Zerwas appointed as chancellor of the University of Texas System |
| Enrollment Numbers | 260,000 total students across the UT System, 53,800 at UT-Austin |
| Budget | UT System operational budget for 2025 is estimated at $30.9 billion |
| Historic Context | First president appointed without traditional academic teaching experience in 126 years |
FAQ
Who has been appointed as the new president of UT-Austin?
James Davis has been appointed as the new president of the University of Texas at Austin.
What was James Davis’s role before becoming president?
Before becoming president, James Davis served as the interim president and previously held positions as senior vice president and chief operating officer.
Who is the new chancellor of the University of Texas System?
John M. Zerwas has been selected as the new chancellor of the University of Texas System.
What significant changes occurred under Davis’s interim leadership?
During his interim presidency, Davis oversaw important decisions, including hiring a new provost and altering the university’s program framework related to academic requirements.
What are the current enrollment numbers for UT-Austin?
UT-Austin has over 53,800 students enrolled as of fall 2024.
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Additional Resources
- MSN News
- Wikipedia: University of Texas at Austin
- Houston Chronicle
- Google Search: University of Texas at Austin
- KVUE News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: University of Texas
- Austin American-Statesman
- Google News: Texas Higher Education
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