The UT System Board of Regents has officially named John M. Zerwas, MD, as the sole finalist for the chancellorship of The University of Texas System, and James E. Davis as the sole finalist for the presidency at The University of Texas at Austin.
Currently serving as interim chancellor, Zerwas has garnered unanimous support from the regents during a special-called meeting.
Meanwhile, Davis, who is also serving in an interim capacity as president of UT Austin, received similar unanimous backing.
Regents’ Chairman Kevin P. Eltife highlighted Dr. Zerwas’ exceptional credentials while announcing his selection.
“Dr. Zerwas demonstrates exceptional qualities and an impeccable record in higher education, healthcare, and policy,” Eltife stated.
He emphasized Zerwas’ experience as the executive vice chancellor of the UT System’s health affairs enterprise, a role he has held since 2019.
Prior to this, Zerwas served in the Texas Legislature, where he held leadership roles in key committees related to higher education, health, and appropriations.
Eltife noted that these accomplishments position Zerwas uniquely to lead the UT System effectively.
The Board of Regents plans to take final action to approve Zerwas as chancellor in mid-August, following the state-mandated 21-day waiting period for finalists.
In expressing his gratitude, Zerwas thanked the regents for their confidence in him.
“I have been fortunate to serve Texans in ways I hope have been beneficial to them,” he remarked.
Zerwas added that he is humbled and honored to be considered for the chancellorship, expressing profound gratitude to Chairman Eltife and the other regents for their trust in him.
“I’m eager to work with my stellar colleagues at the UT System and across all UT institutions in this new capacity to maximize UT’s potential in education, discovery, and healthcare,” Zerwas conveyed.
In addition to nominating Zerwas, the regents unanimously voted to name Jim Davis as the sole finalist for the UT Austin presidency.
Similar to Zerwas, Davis’ appointment will also be subject to the 21-day waiting period before any final decisions are made.
As per Regents Rule 20201, Section 1.9, Chairman Eltife will be forming a special committee comprised of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community representatives.
This committee will provide the regents with evaluations and advice on Davis, mirroring the processes typically undertaken by a presidential search advisory committee, with no regents participating.
Eltife recognized the significant progress made by UT Austin under Davis’s interim leadership, stating that his influences span from his tenure as interim president, which commenced in February 2025, to multiple leadership roles since 2018, including senior vice president and chief operating officer.
“The regents have worked closely with Jim Davis over the past seven years on some of the largest and most complex initiatives ever undertaken by UT Austin,” Eltife remarked.
He further commended Davis for his deep understanding of UT Austin’s opportunities and challenges, calling it remarkable.
Davis’ ability to navigate these complexities from conception to successful execution has evidently served the university well.
Eltife noted that every proposal from Davis is strategically focused on how UT can best redirect its resources to serve students and enhance its prominence as a national public flagship university in education and innovation.
Expressing his gratitude, Davis stated, “I am honored to be considered to serve as our university’s president.”
In closing, Chairman Eltife expressed appreciation for the regents’ decisive actions towards securing quality leadership for UT institutions.
“Among the top responsibilities of the board of regents is to ensure UT institutions have the best leadership to serve students and patients effectively,” he said.
Eltife concluded by reaffirming Texas’s status as a national destination for aspiring students, faculty, researchers, clinicians, and staff, emphasizing the board’s commitment to placing UT institutions at the forefront of excellence.
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