Archie Holmes named acting president of UTA
UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas made the following announcement today:
Dear Maverick Community,
Last week, President Jennifer Cowley delivered her final State of the University address, reflecting on UT Arlington's extraordinary momentum and bright future. On behalf of the UT System Board of Regents and entire UT System community, we offer sincere gratitude for her exceptional leadership and service.
Under President Cowley’s leadership, UTA advanced transformative initiatives including new student success outcomes, a strengthened research enterprise, the development of UTA West, and opening of Maverick Hall, just to name a few. UTA is very well positioned for its best days ahead.
Today, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Archie Holmes, the UT System’s Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, will serve as Acting President of UTA.
As EVC for Academic Affairs, Dr. Holmes provides strategic leadership, oversight and guidance to the UT System academic institutions, including UTA. Working closely with UT presidents, provosts and academic leaders across the state, he advances institutional growth and excellence through initiatives focused on student success, research growth, workforce development and academic innovation.
Dr. Holmes received his bachelor’s and PhD degrees, both in electrical engineering, from UT Austin and the University of California, Santa Barbara, respectively. Prior to joining the UT System, he served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at the University of Virginia and held faculty appointments at both UVA and UT Austin. While at UT Austin, he received the Texas Excellence Teaching Award in Engineering. His engineering research focuses on the development of novel optoelectronic devices and has been supported by multiple federal agencies. He has co-authored more than 110 peer-reviewed technical publications over the course of his career.
Dr. Holmes has provided tremendous support to UTA over the years and has worked extensively with President Cowley.
Dr. Holmes will begin his role at UTA tomorrow. I am grateful that Dr. Cowley has agreed to serve as a special advisor to Dr. Holmes, who will also continue in his current leadership role at the UT System. Concurrently, the Board of Regents and I will undertake the process of identifying UTA's next president. We consider the selection of top UT presidents among our most important responsibilities.
UT Arlington has tremendous momentum. Thanks to outstanding faculty, dedicated staff, a growing campus and 43,000 talented students, UTA’s national reputation continues on a spectacular rise.
We hope you will join us in thanking Dr. Cowley and welcoming Dr. Holmes. And thank you for all you do to advance and support the Maverick community.
Sincerely,
John M. Zerwas, MD
Chancellor