Presidential Search Advisory Committee Named for UT Arlington

AUSTIN – Members of a presidential search advisory committee charged with identifying candidates for president of The University of Texas at Arlington were named today (Aug. 21) by UT System Regents’ Chairman Gene Powell.

The advisory committee will recommend a list of potential candidates – unranked – for the Board of Regents to consider. The next president of the institution will succeed President James Spaniolo, who announced last June his intention to step down from the top post once his successor is in place.

“I am very pleased these individuals have agreed to serve on this very important search advisory committee,” Powell said. “The selection of a president to lead a University of Texas System institution is one of the most important responsibilities of the Board of Regents. I am confident the search committee will be able to identify the very best candidates to lead UT Arlington and build upon the remarkable accomplishments of President Jim Spaniolo,” Powell added.

The committee membership is made in accordance with the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations, which includes a provision for representation on such committees by various constituencies of the institution.

The committee will be chaired by Pedro Reyes, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs in the UT System. Other advisory committee members are:

  • Regent Wallace L. Hall, Jr., of Dallas, president, Wetland Partners, L.P.
  • Regent Alex M. Cranberg of Austin, chairman and CEO, Aspect Holdings, L.L.C.
  • Ricardo Romo, Ph.D., president, The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • Kirk Calhoun, M.D., president, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
  • Dan Formanowicz, Ph.D., professor, department of biology, UT Arlington
  • Tom Ingram, Ph.D., associate professor, department of communication, UT Arlington
  • James Campbell Quick, Ph.D., professor, department of management, UT Arlington
  • Pam Jansma, Ph.D., dean, College of Science, UT Arlington
  • Stephen Lunce, conference coordinator, UT Arlington
  • Jennifer Fox, president, Student Congress, UT Arlington
  • Bob Watson, president, UT Arlington Alumni Association

The community members of the search advisory committee are:

  • H. Franklin Alexander, D.D.S., of Arlington
  • Robert A. Estrada of Ft. Worth, chairman and chief executive officer, Estrada Hinojosa & Company, Inc.
  • Shirlee J. Gandy of Ft. Worth, president, RPM Commercial
  • Ralph H. Hawkins of Dallas, chairman and CEO, HKS, Inc.
  • Ashley M. Purgason, UT Arlington alumna and Student Regent

The Regents’ Rule on the selection for a president may be viewed online.

Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search firm, is assisting the UT System in the national search and advertisements for the position will be placed in publications so the committee may carry out its search as expeditiously as possible.

About The University of Texas System
Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking research and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States, with nine academic universities and six health science centers. Student enrollment exceeded 215,000 in the 2011 academic year. The UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and educates nearly three-fourths of the state’s health care professionals annually. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $13.1 billion (FY 2012) including $2.3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With roughly 87,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.

About The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington sets the standard for educational excellence in the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth area. With an enrollment approaching 33,500, it's the second largest institution in the UT System and the sixth largest in Texas. The University is rising in stature through its commitment to transforming the lives of students, pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and serving those around us. Dramatic, measurable advancements continue to propel UT Arlington toward its goal of becoming one of America’s premier research institutions. Research activity has more than tripled to $66 million over the past 10 years, with increasing expertise in bioengineering, medical diagnostics, micro-manufacturing, and defense and Homeland Security technologies, among other areas. With a growing number of campus residents, UT Arlington has become a first-choice university for students seeking a vibrant college experience. In addition to receiving a first-rate education in more than 180 disciplines, our students participate in a robust slate of co-curricular activities that prepare them to become the next generation of leaders.