Interim Texas president Jay Hartzell named as sole finalist for university president job

In unanimous fashion, the University of Texas System’s Board of Regents named interim university president Jay Hartzell as the sole candidate to replace former president Greg Fenves.

Hartzell has served in the interim role for the Texas Longhorns’ flagship campus since April, when Fenves stepped down after five year for a similar role up north at Emory University.

“Jay Hartzell has performed admirably since being named interim president. The regents, chancellor and I have received countless votes of confidence in his abilities from faculty, staff, students and the Longhorn nation. We will look forward to additional input from the committee on all the ways we can support Dr. Hartzell as he leads UT Austin,” vice chairman Rad Weaver said in a statement. “Now, more than ever, we must have leadership in place that understands the full depth and scope of UT Austin’s operations across the academic, research and athletics enterprises. Interim President Hartzell has been immersed in all those matters. We are grateful for his strong leadership to date and enthusiastically look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”

The Board of Regents approved an annual salary of $795,000 in June for Hartzell, the Texas Tribune reports.

“Leading The University of Texas as interim president has been an incredible honor, and I am equally honored to be named the sole finalist to lead this great university into the future,” Hartzell said in the statement. “I look forward to serving my alma mater any way I can as we seek to overcome today’s challenges. I thank Chairman Eltife, Chancellor Milliken and the Board of Regents for their partnership and support.”