National search to launch for next UT Arlington president; advisory committee named

The University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife has announced the members of a committee tasked with advising the regents on selecting the next president of UT Arlington.

Teik C. Lim, UT Arlington’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, has been serving as interim president since March 2020.

The search advisory committee will engage in an intensive process and ultimately will make recommendations on candidates to the board, which will make the final decision. Committee members were selected in accordance with the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations, which requires representation by various constituencies of the institution.

“As the largest university in North Texas and second largest in The University of Texas System, UT Arlington is highly regarded for its academic and research excellence and its commitment to serve veterans, first-generation students, transfer students and a large undergraduate class,” Eltife said. “And today, UT Arlington has significant momentum as the nation’s third fastest growing doctoral university.  The next president will be charged with keeping UT Arlington ambitiously moving forward.”

“This is a pivotal period for higher education. We’ve learned much about enhancing our students’ educational experiences. We have new knowledge on what Texas and our nation needs for its future workforce,” said James B. Milliken, chancellor of the UT System and chair of the committee.  “UT Arlington is in a unique position to lead in these areas, and we are committed to identifying leaders who will foster scholarship, creativity and discovery.”

The UT Arlington presidential search advisory committee will include the following members:

  • Committee Chair: James B. Milliken, UT System Chancellor
     
  • Board of Regents: Vice Chairman Janiece Longoria; Christina Melton Crain, Esq.; Kelcy Warren
     
  • UT System: Archie Holmes, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor for academic affairs
     
  • UT Presidents: Jay Hartzell, Ph.D., UT Austin; Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., UT Southwestern Medical Center
     
  • UT Arlington dean, faculty, and staff: Scott D. Ryan, MSW, MBA, Ph.D., dean and professor, School of Social Work; Alan Bowling, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; Kaushik De, Ph.D., professor, Department of Physics, College of Science; Jacqueline Fay, Ph.D., associate professor of English and chair-elect, Faculty Senate; Margaret (Margie) Jackymack, chair, Staff Advisory Council
     
  • UT Arlington student and alumnus: Caitlyn Burge, incoming student body president; Eddy Dale Martin, DDS, alumni association president
     
  • External and community members: Lillie Biggins, former president, Texas Health Care Harris Methodist Hospital of Ft. Worth; James “Jim” Greer, executive vice present and chief operating officer, Oncor; Rosa Navejar, president and chief executive officer, The Rios Group

A special website is providing ongoing information about the search, as well an opportunity for members of the university community and public to anonymously submit candidate nominations and comments.

About The University of Texas System

For more than 130 years, The University of Texas System has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 13 institutions, an enrollment of more than 243,000 students and an operating budget of $21.7 billion (FY 2021), the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce more than 64,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and more than half of its medical degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 8.6 million outpatient visits and almost 1.8 million hospital days in 2020. UT institutions also are among the most innovative in the world, collectively ranking No. 4 for most U.S. patents granted in 2020, and the UT System is No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation in federal research expenditures. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 21,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies – and more than 85,000 health care professionals, researchers and support staff.

News Contact Information

Karen Adler: kadler@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4360 (direct) • 210-912-8055 (cell)