The president of one of Texas’ most prominent universities is packing up to lead a different institution.
On Tuesday, Southern Methodist University announced that its board of trustees had voted unanimously to hire Dr. Jay Hartzell as its next president, ending his tenure as president of the University of Texas at Austin.
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Hartzell was named the 30th president at UT Austin in the fall of 2020 after serving in various roles within McCombs School of Business—including president—over a 25-year span. The position at SMU became available after former President Dr. R. Gerald Turner will transition out of the role after 30 years.
The transition is slated to officially happen this summer.
“Dr. Hartzell is a well-respected academician and higher education leader with a strong track record of accomplishments that make him the ideal candidate to build upon the tremendous energy and momentum we are experiencing here on the Hilltop,” David B. Miller, chair of the SMU Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Presidential Search Committee, said in a statement announcing Hartzell’s hiring.
Tuesday morning, Hartzell sent a letter to the UT Austin campus announcing his departure, which can be read in full here.
“I will be eternally grateful for my 29 years at UT as a student, faculty member, and administrator. My wife, Kara, and I will always be Longhorns—as alumni, parents, passionate supporters, and fans—even when we are no longer on the faculty or staff,” a paragraph of the letter read.
UT System Chairman of the Board of Regents Kevin P. Eltife and Chancellor J.B. Milliken also provided the following statement:
“We congratulate UT Austin President Jay Hartzell on being named the new president of Southern Methodist University. We greatly appreciate his service as UT Austin’s president since 2020 and on its faculty since 2001. His last day on the Forty Acres will be May 31
“UT Austin is one of the world’s outstanding universities, with an exceptional faculty, staff, and leadership team in place to position it for even greater influence in the years ahead. We have worked closely with UT Austin during Jay Hartzell’s five years as president, and we will continue to do so in the months ahead to ensure a smooth transition.
“We wish President Hartzell our very best on his new leadership role in Dallas, and we thank him for his many contributions to UT over the past 24 years.”
Hartzell earned a B.S. in business administration and economics from Trinity University and a Ph.D. in finance from UT Austin.