John Zerwas, M.D., has been chosen as acting chancellor of The University of Texas (UT) System. He will succeed JB Milliken in the role, effective June 1.
Zerwas currently serves as executive vice chancellor for health affairs for the UT System, a position he has held since joining the system in October 2019. In that role, he leads and guides the system’s health institutions and academic institutions with medical school and health-related programs.
Prior to joining the UT System, Zerwas was a member of the Texas House of Representatives for seven consecutive terms. During that time, he served as chair of the Higher Education Committee and the Appropriations Committee.
As acting chancellor, Zerwas will oversee more than 256,000 students. His appointment is the latest in several drastic leadership shifts in Texas higher education in recent history. Jay Hartzell, former president of UT Austin, stepped down in January to take up a similar role at Southern Methodist University and was replaced in an interim capacity by former UT Chief Operating Officer Jim Davis.
Milliken recently announced that he would be leaving his current role as UT chancellor to pursue a new position as president of the University of California. He will begin that role Aug. 1, 2025. In the meantime, Milliken will remain chancellor until May 30 to support the transition to the system’s new chancellor.
Photo Courtesy The University of Texas System
