University of Texas System regents have chosen the former chancellor of the City University of New York as the sole finalist to be the next chancellor of the 14-campus system in Texas.
During a meeting Saturday in Austin, regents voted to name James B. Milliken as their choice. He was previously chancellor of the City University of New York, the nation’s largest urban university system. He is also a former president of the University of Nebraska.
By state law, regents will have to wait 21 days before they can formally appoint Milliken.
The Board of Regents unanimously voted to select national higher ed leader James B. Milliken as sole finalist for chancellor: https://t.co/hCxHCxu1BU
— UT System (@utsystem) August 4, 2018
"His experiences in higher education leadership are deep and broad, and he has very effectively guided university systems that have many of the characteristics and strategic aspirations embedded throughout UT's academic and health institutions,” said Regents' Chairman Sara Martinez Tucker of Milliken, in a press release. “Moreover, he has enjoyed strong support from elected officials, students, and campus leaders in his previous posts, all of whom described him as someone they could count on in times of great opportunity and challenges."
Milliken is expected to lead a system made up of 235,000 students and around 100,000 employees. The chancellor’s duties include representing the system in legislative matters and fundraising.
He will replace William McRaven, who stepped down in May.