UT System Confirms Davis as Austin President, Zerwas as Chancellor

The University of Texas System Board of Regents officially appointed James E. Davis as the 31st president of UT Austin and Dr. John M. Zerwas as the chancellor of the UT System. Both Davis and Zerwas had been serving in interim roles prior to their official appointments. Davis, who has a non-traditional academic background including legal and military service, was selected through an internal committee process without a national search, similar to his predecessor Jay Hartzell. Under his interim leadership, Davis has implemented significant changes such as hiring a new provost, securing funding for the School of Civic Leadership, and revising the core curriculum. Zerwas, a former Republican state representative and experienced health affairs leader within the UT System, brings decades of public service and medical expertise to the chancellor role. The appointments come amid heightened political scrutiny of higher education in Texas and the UT System's leadership transition following Chancellor JB Milliken's departure.