Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363

Date: June 21, 2002

UT System News Release

Mark Yudof Appointed Chancellor

AUSTIN -- Mark G. Yudof, president of the University of Minnesota since 1997, was officially named chancellor of the University of Texas System on Friday (June 21). Yudof, who will succeed Chancellor R. D. Burck at the end of the summer, was named the sole finalist for the position by the Board of Regents three weeks ago.

"On behalf of the Board of Regents, I want to express our delight that Mark Yudof has accepted this key role in American higher education," said Charles Miller, chairman of the board. "He brings to the chancellor's office a wealth of experience across the entire spectrum of higher education. He will provide the U.T. System with bold and visionary leadership." Miller also paid tribute to Burck.

"Chancellor Burck has led the U.T. System with great distinction, and we are deeply grateful for his service on behalf of Texas and all who care about higher education," Miller said. The board has asked Burck to continue as a special adviser through August 2005.

Burck became chancellor in 2000. He announced last August that he planned to retire from the position at least by August 2003.

Burck was traveling out of the state on Friday but made the following comment: "The appointment of Mark Yudof to succeed me as chancellor should give everyone great confidence in the direction of the U.T. System in the years ahead and the quality of its top management. I could not be more pleased that the Board of Regents has made this appointment.

"Mark Yudof will bring to the chancellor's position a lifetime of distinguished achievement in higher education. Throughout his career, he has upheld the highest standards of excellence and has proven himself to be a perceptive and resourceful leader."

Yudof was a faculty member and administrator at U.T. Austin before going to the University of Minnesota. He came to U.T. Austin in 1971 as an assistant professor of law and continued to teach throughout his career at the university. He was executive vice president and provost from 1994 to 1997 and dean of the School of Law from 1984 to 1994.

Yudof is an authority on topics such as constitutional law, freedom of expression, and education law. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Law Institute. He holds a law degree and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.

As chancellor, Yudof will be the chief administrative officer of one of the nation's largest higher education systems. The U.T. System has 15 campuses, including nine academic and six health institutions, an enrollment of more than 160,000 students, more than 84,000 employees and an annual operating budget of $6.45 billion.

An archived webcast of a news conference with Chancellor Yudof and Chairman Miller

Chancellor Search web page

Vitae of Mark G. Yudof

Biography of Mark G. Yudof

High resolution photograph of Mark G. Yudof

Biographical information on Chairman Charles Miller

Biographical information on Chancellor R. D. Burck

Previous News Release: Mark Yudof Named Sole Finalist for U.T. System Chancellor

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