Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363

Date: February 25, 2003

UT System News Release

Advisory Committee Named by Regents' Chairman for Presidential Search at U.T. Arlington

AUSTIN - The appointment of an 18-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee to advise the University of Texas System Board of Regents on the selection of a president for U.T. Arlington was announced Tuesday (Feb. 25) by Charles Miller, chairman of the board.

The committee will make recommendations on possible successors to President Robert E. Witt, who will assume the presidency of the University of Alabama on March 1. The committee will be asked to present the names of five to 10 candidates, unranked, to the board, which will make the final decision. The search process will begin immediately with advertisements for the position placed in national publications so the committee can carry out its search as expeditiously as possible.

"U.T. Arlington plays a critically important role in teaching, research, and public service in the Metroplex and for the entire state," Miller said. "We are pleased that this distinguished group of advisers has been assembled to assist the board in the process of finding a new president who will carry forward the outstanding work of the university. Presidential searches are always among the most important tasks of the Board of Regents, and we look forward to a rewarding process for UTA in the coming months."

Miller appointed the committee in accordance with the Board of Regents' regulations, which include a provision for representation on such committees by various constituencies of a university.

The regulations provide for at least two community representatives, but Miller said he decided to name five to broaden input from the community. The chairman of the board is authorized to increase the number of community representatives under various circumstances. (Regents' Rules, Part One, Chapter II, Subsection 17.11.)

The committee will be chaired by Dr. Teresa Sullivan, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs for the U.T. System. Chancellor Mark G. Yudof will also serve on the committee.

Representing the Board of Regents on the committee will be Dr. Judith Craven of Houston and Cyndi Taylor Krier of San Antonio.

Representing presidents of other U.T. System institutions are Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, president of the U.T. Health Science Center at San Antonio, and Dr. Larry Faulkner, president of U.T. Austin.

The UTA faculty representatives, as selected by the Faculty Senate, are Dr. Dennis Reinhartz, professor of history and Russian; Dr. Thomas Chrzanowski, professor of biology; and Dr. John W. Priest, professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering.

Dr. Elizabeth C. Poster, dean of the UTA School of Nursing, was selected for the committee by the UTA Deans' Council.

Representing the UTA staff, as selected by the campus Staff Advisory Council, is Kathryn Beller, director of Texas Hall.

The committee will also include a student, to be selected by the Student Government.

Dr. Michael Burton, president of the UTA Alumni association, will serve on the committee by virtue of his leadership of the alumni group.

The community representatives, selected by Miller, are Tom Cravens, president and CEO of Northwest National Bank in Arlington and chair of the UTA Development Board; Robert L. Herchert, chairman of Freese & Nichols Inc. in Fort Worth and a member of the UTA Development Board; Wes Jurey, president and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce; Elzie Odom, mayor of Arlington; and Dan Serna, an Arlington CPA and a former member of the Arlington City Council.

Website for U.T. Arlington: www.uta.edu.
Charles Sorber Appointed Interim President of U.T. Arlington, National Search for Permanent President to Begin - February 10, 2003