University of Texas System regents announce they have selected a finalist to serve as the President of the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Taylor Eighmy replaces Ricardo Romo, who resigned in March.
For the past several months, UT regents have been scouring through the resumes of university presidents from across the country. UT Vice Chancellor Steve Leslie says the board announced that Taylor Eighmy from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville will serve as UTSA’s next campus president.
For the last five years, Eighmy has served as the University of Tennessee’s vice chancellor for research. Leslie says it was Eighmy’s background in research development that led to him being selected as a finalist for the job.
“So having someone who has deep and board experience and what it takes to build a deep and strong research infrastructure at a university is of key importance," Leslie explains.
Eighmy, who has a doctorate in civil engineering, also helped lead the research initiatives at Texas Tech University in Lubbock before his time at the University of Tennessee
UTSA is listed by the State as an emerging research facility and is currently pursuing a Tier I status which recognizes top research facilities in the country and makes them more eligible for research grants and funding.
In February, UTSA president Ricardo Romo was placed on administrative leave following sexual allegations related to his conduct. Romo resigned a month later.
Eighmy isn’t expected to join UTSA until after the start of the 2017 Fall semester. RP TPR News]