Today is a day of new beginnings. It’s the first work day of the new year for many of you and, for me, it’s my first official day as chancellor of The University of Texas System. I am honored to have been selected to serve in this important position.

As I have told my staff here at the UT System, communication is the cornerstone of how I operate. The more voices I hear, the more clearly I will be able to determine the correct path forward for UT institutions.

The aim of this blog is to communicate to you – those who are interested in and care about The University of Texas System. During my years in the Navy, I always enjoyed games of pick-up basketball with the young sailors and marines under my charge. It’s a great opportunity for breaking down perceived barriers and building relationships. Those experiences inspired the name for this blog: One-on-One. I plan to use it as a platform to share with you what we’re doing here at the UT System to promote and advance our 15 institutions across the state and to ask for your feedback.

I hope this blog will allow us to get to know one another and will help you understand my vision for The University of Texas System.  As a public servant, I can think of no nobler goal than to advance the goals of higher education, research and service to the State of Texas. I have pledged to work tirelessly in this pursuit and I hope you will support me in doing so.

A career in special ops meant I kept a relatively low profile for most of my career but  now I’m branching out, not just with a blog, but also a presence on social media. You can follow me on Twitter  @billmcraven for more updates on the UT System and the great work of our institutions, and you can check back here for new blog posts. Also, please like The University of Texas System on Facebook where we share photos, videos and important news and information about UT institutions.

I am thrilled to be on this journey with you and immensely proud to be part of the UT family.