SAN ANTONIO – The University of Texas System Board of Regents Tuesday named T. Taylor Eighmy the University of Texas at San Antonio's new president.
School officials said Eighmy had been unanimously selected as the sole finalist for the position last month. Regents approved Eighmy's appointment as president Tuesday at a special called meeting of the board.
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Eighmy, who will begin his new role on Sept. 1, is currently vice chancellor for research and engagement at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he is also a professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Eighmy has extensive experience in university leadership, including developing top tier research institutions and building critical student success programs, especially around experiential learning and undergraduate research.
“I am profoundly grateful to the UT System Board of Regents for this incredible opportunity. I believe that great cities need great universities,” Eighmy said. “All the ingredients are in place for UTSA to leverage access and discovery to become the very best Hispanic-serving top tier research university. "
Eighmy has worked closely with state legislators and industry, business and civic leaders in developing critical and sustainable public partnerships, and has championed community engagement as a chief research officer.
“Dr. Eighmy has an outstanding background as a professor, researcher, inventor and administrative leader, which has provided rich and diverse experiences in the university setting and beyond,” Regents’ Chairman Paul L. Foster said. “Given UTSA’s growing reputation and continued pursuit of Tier One university status, Dr. Eighmy is an exceptional choice to lead this remarkable institution as it strives to reach even greater heights.”
School officials said while at the University of Tennessee, Eighmy, along with colleagues at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, directed efforts that resulted in the University of Tennessee’s selection to lead the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, a $259 million public-private partnership supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. Eighmy was the principal investigator of the project.
Prior to his work at the University of Tennessee, Eighmy served as senior vice president for research at Texas Tech University and spent several years at the University of New Hampshire in roles such as professor, director of strategic initiatives, assistant vice president for research and interim vice president for research.
"UTSA should be the exemplar for the new urban-serving university, and I hope it can become a beacon for all as a place to learn, discover and engage," Eighmy said. "I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and community leaders to realize these aspirations and am very appreciative of the warm welcome and support from the UTSA community, especially from Interim President Reyes.”
Eighmy said he and his wife are looking forward to returning to Texas and making San Antonio their home.
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