Jim Davis Named Interim UT Austin President

Jim Davis has been appointed as the interim president of the University of Texas at Austin following a decision by the Board of Regents. Previously the senior vice president and chief operating officer, Davis takes over from Jay Hartzell, who is leaving to become president of Southern Methodist University earlier than planned. Davis has a longstanding history with the university, having been hired in 2018 as vice president for legal affairs and business strategies. His appointment marks the first time since 1899 that a president without a teaching background is leading UT Austin. Davis's past roles include deputy attorney general for civil litigation under Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and a briefing attorney for former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The university has not yet announced a process for selecting a permanent president.