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UT Tyler Presidential Search Advisory Committee named

AUSTIN — A committee to advise The University of Texas System Board of Regents on the selection of a president for UT Tyler was announced today by Regents’ Chairman Paul L. Foster.

The UT Tyler presidential search advisory committee will make recommendations on possible successors to Rodney H. Mabry, Ph.D., who announced in February his plans to retire at the end of 2016.  

The search advisory committee will be asked to present names of potential 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 include a provision for representation on such committees by various constituencies of the institution.

“UT Tyler is an exceptional academic institution that provides students with high quality education and is a particular leader in humanities, arts and sciences. We will seek a president to champion the continued growth of this respected university,” Foster said. “The search advisory committee represents distinguished individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences that will be of great value in this selection process. The board is thankful for their knowledge and service and looks forward to receiving the committee’s recommendations.”

Representation includes:

  • Chair of the committee (Steven Leslie, Ph.D., UT System executive vice chancellor for academic affairs)
  • Board of Regents (Regent Brenda Pejovich and Regent Ernest Aliseda)  
  • Presidents of other UT System institutions (Gregory Fenves, Ph.D., president of UT Austin; and Kirk A. Calhoun, M.D., president of UT Health Science Center at Tyler)
  • UT Tyler dean, faculty and student (James R. Lumpkin, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business and Technology; Catherine Ross, Ph.D., associate professor of English; Mary Fischer, Ph.D., professor of accounting; Kouider Mokhtari, Ph.D., professor of education; and Josiah Shipley, political science and economics student)
  • UT Tyler staff and alumni (Jessica Brown, marketing coordinator in the College of Business & Technology; and David King, CEO and president of Primoris Services Corporation)
  • External and community members (Dawn Franks, president of Your Philanthropy, LLC; James I. Perkins, president and chairman of Citizens 1st Bank; and A.W. “Whit” Riter, III, president of Riter Management Company)

The UT System will establish a website to provide information regarding the search, including a timeline, and will provide an opportunity for members of the public to privately submit nominations for the next president of UT Tyler. The website will be publicized as soon as it is operational.

Russell Reynolds Associates, a global executive recruitment firm, is assisting the UT System in the national search.

About The University of Texas System

Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking basic, applied and clinical research, and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. With 14 institutions and an enrollment of more than 217,000, the UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees, educates almost two-thirds of the state’s health care professionals annually and accounts for almost 70 percent of all research funds awarded to public institutions in Texas. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $16.9 billion (FY 2016) including $3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With about 20,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates – and more than 70,000 health care professionals, researchers, student advisors and support staff, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.

News Contact Information

Jenny LaCoste-Caputo: jcaputo@utsystem.edu  • 512-499-4361(direct) • 512-574-5777 (cell) 
Melanie Thompson: mthompson@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4487 (direct) • 832-724-1024 (cell)