UT-Austin Appoints Jim Davis as Interim President, Ending Hartzell’s Tenure Early

The University of Texas System has announced a sudden leadership shift, appointing Jim Davis as the interim president of UT-Austin, effective immediately. The decision arrived significantly ahead of schedule as the current president, Jay Hartzell, prepared to assume his new position as president of Southern Methodist University (SMU).

Davis, who has held the position of chief operating officer at UT-Austin since 2023, was chosen by UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken and the UT System Board of Regents. Davis, a UT-Austin alumnus with a law degree from Harvard University, previously served as a deputy attorney general under Ken Paxton. He has since returned to UT to manage university operations, real estate, housing, and infrastructure.

“I agree that Jim Davis is the appropriate leader to take on the role of interim president,” Chancellor Milliken stated. “He is well-acquainted with the campus and the state and is already at the forefront of the institution’s initiatives to tackle some of its most pressing opportunities and challenges.”

Hartzell, who has been at the helm of UT-Austin since 2020, initially intended to resign after the academic year to assume leadership at SMU. In a letter to the campus, he commended Davis as a reliable leader who has significantly contributed to campus development and the expansion of student housing.

As noted in his university biography, Davis lacks prior teaching experience, yet he has played a significant role in UT’s administrative leadership. As interim president, he will prioritize stability and ongoing growth until a permanent successor is appointed.

‍