The University of Texas chief operating officer Jim Davis, who has close ties to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, was named interim president of the flagship university. According to system leadership personnel,

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

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.

The University of Texas at Austin now has an interim leader. James Davis, the university's senior vice president and chief operating officer, has been named the interim president of UT, effective immediately,