The UT System Board of Regents named Jim Davis, the University’s current senior vice president and chief operating officer, interim president of UT effective immediately on Wednesday. 

The board’s decision marks the end of President Jay Hartzell’s term three months before his expected departure in May to become Southern Methodist University’s president. Davis assisted in UT’s transfer to the Southeastern Conference, the development of the Moody Center and the creation of UT’s Innovation Tower, according to a UT System news release. 

“Jim Davis has consistently executed very effective and high-impact strategies to propel UT Austin’s rise,” Eltife said in the release. “His depth of knowledge in optimizing how the university operates to best serve its students is critical at this time in higher education, and we appreciate his willingness to serve in this role.” 

Davis previously served as UT’s vice president for legal affairs and business strategies and graduated from the University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in history and the Harvard Law School in 1999. Davis also worked in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office as a deputy attorney general for civil litigation and for former Texas Supreme Court Justice Alberto Gonzales as a briefing attorney. 

“I am grateful for the leadership and support of Chairman Eltife, the Board of Regents and Chancellor Milliken, and I am honored by this opportunity to further serve our university,” Davis said in the news release. 

The board has not announced if it intends to do a national search for Hartzell’s permanent replacement. The University was not available for comment at the time of publication.