University of Texas System officials have named James E. Davis as interim president of the flagship, taking over for outgoing President Jay Hartzell immediately. Davis most recently served as senior vice president and chief operating officer at the University of Texas at Austin.

Davis has a bachelor’s degree from UT but does not have teaching experience, as the majority of the institution's 30 past presidents have had.

Austin's chief operating officer since 2023, ends President Jay Hartzell’s tenure months earlier than anticipated.