Overview
- Jennifer Cowley announced Monday, Aug. 31 that she is stepping down as president of the University of Texas at Arlington to rejoin the faculty and focus on teaching, research, and student mentoring.
- Cowley served as UTA's 10th president since 2022 and was the university's first female president, a tenure credited with gains in student success and growth of the research enterprise, including planning for the UTA West campus.
- She told Chancellor John M. Zerwas of her decision and said she will stay engaged during the transition while Zerwas names an interim president and UTA begins a national search for a permanent leader.
- The announcement did not specify an official departure date, a detail that leaves near-term operational questions for campus units and ongoing projects such as enrollment management and the UTA West build-out.
- Cowley has prior senior academic leadership experience at the University of North Texas and Ohio State University and will return to UTA faculty roles listed on the university website, keeping her connected to campus life.