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Jay Hartzell, a nationally recognized university leader, proudly serves as the 11th president of º£½ÇÖ±²¥. He began his tenure on June 1. 

Learn more in the Q&A below about what President Hartzell considers to be the opportunities ahead, how Dallas plays a role in º£½ÇÖ±²¥’s future and why he loves to play tennis whenever he gets the chance.

Q: What message do you want to share with the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ community about your leadership and what they can expect under your presidency?

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has powerful momentum, due in large part to President Turner’s legacy and the remarkable progress º£½ÇÖ±²¥ made during his presidency. Some of the most recent and notable accomplishments include achieving Research One (R1) status, entering the ACC, and completing a historic fundraising campaign and a ten-year strategic plan. We are operating from a position of strength: outstanding students, faculty and staff; a thriving city; and a community that believes in this University.

As president, I will do my best to lead with clarity, candor and collaboration. You can expect me to honor what has brought us to this point while setting a bold, confident course for º£½ÇÖ±²¥’s continued ascent. I will stay open and transparent throughout this journey and ask the same in return. We will be strategic, thoughtful and true to who we are. That said, we will be aggressive and will tolerate risk and experimentation when they are undertaken for the benefit of our students, research and creative pursuits. We will look for ways to compete and win, especially when we are recruiting or retaining talented faculty, staff, students and student-athletes. This is not about change for its own sake, but about challenging what’s possible and accelerating our pursuit of excellence.

Together, we will position º£½ÇÖ±²¥ as the most relevant and highest-value urban private university in the country.

Q: You were president of one of the largest public universities in the country. How do you plan to apply that experience to a private university campus like º£½ÇÖ±²¥?

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is a unique institution with exciting momentum and even greater potential ahead. My experience at UT reinforced a core belief: Academics, research and athletics can and should thrive together. When they do, the whole university rises. Along the way, I have seen the power of leaning into a university’s location, alumni base, and a wide range of supporters and partners in order to innovate and advance.

I have always believed that putting people first – especially students – drives everything else. At the end of the day, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ must deliver the most relevant, high-impact education and experience for our students. The size, scale, strengths and location of our University make this possible and are all part of this remarkable opportunity.

Q: What is the opportunity ahead for º£½ÇÖ±²¥?

Our charge is to accelerate excellence as we strive to become the most relevant, high-impact, urban private university in the U.S., elevating our students and serving Dallas. I want us to grow and evolve in all the right ways, protecting what makes º£½ÇÖ±²¥ special while pushing forward in areas like research and creative arts, graduate programs and lifelong learning, community and business partnerships, and of course, athletic success!

Q: How important is Dallas to you and to the future of º£½ÇÖ±²¥?

We want to be as critical to Dallas as it is to us. We are a key part of one of the most dynamic, leading cities in the world, and we must find new, innovative and bold ways to serve and support it. A vibrant city provides advantages to our academic mission that are impossible to otherwise replicate – a finger on the pulse of business, the arts and broader society. It provides access to opportunities for students and faculty, brings together theory and practice, and helps us understand where the world is heading and how to prepare for it. In turn, all of these forces enable us to lure amazing talent to campus, embodied in our students, faculty, staff, and engaged alumni and supporters.

We will continue to anchor ourselves at the heart of the city’s economic and entrepreneurial engine, driving innovation and growth for the city and with the city.

Q: How do you plan to balance º£½ÇÖ±²¥’s emphasis on academic success and athletic excellence?

We have an unwavering commitment to excellence in everything we do –including academics, research and athletics. Success in athletics not only enhances school spirit, student life, and alumni engagement, it also elevates the visibility and reputation of the entire university. A strong athletics program gives us powerful platforms to draw more talent to campus, showcase our academic strengths, attract national attention, and create new opportunities for collaboration. At the same time, our core mission remains rooted in academic excellence, world-changing research and transformative teaching. We will continue to attract top faculty, expand research that tackles important problems, and create hands-on learning opportunities that prepare our students to lead in a rapidly evolving world. Everything we do from the classroom to the playing field is in service of shaping our students into thoughtful leaders and contributing meaningfully to Dallas and the world beyond.

Q: What are your early impressions about the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ community?

The passion our people have for this University and our students has clearly stood out. I’ve met great faculty and staff during my first few weeks, including people who have been here for three months and people who have been here for 30 years – and that’s been a lot of fun. I have also been struck by the number of people who know the university is on the rise and who want to help us, even if they didn’t go to school here. º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has been shaped by extraordinary leadership, and it’s an honor to follow in those footsteps and continue to build on this Mustang Momentum we’re experiencing here on the Hilltop.

Q: What are you most excited about in your role?

I am beyond excited to be part of one of the most interesting, high-trajectory institutions in the country that is in one of the most dynamic business and community-oriented cities in the world. I chose º£½ÇÖ±²¥ because of the unprecedented opportunity we have ahead of us. That opportunity is here because of our people and culture, the community, all that Dallas has to offer, and incredible commitment and support from a wide array of passionate people who believe in our potential and our mission. I am energized by the chance to make a difference, and by joining a community of people who want to do so, too.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?

I am a big sports fan, especially collegiate athletics, which has become a real passion through my professional life. I also love playing tennis whenever I get the chance. It is a great way to relieve stress and stay active while having fun with friends. My wife, Kara, and I also love to travel, find interesting food to try, and to explore cities – so, Dallas is full of great opportunities for us to explore. Our children are in graduate school, so we are now able to dedicate more time to our rescue pitbull mix, Loba, whom you may see us walking on campus or in University Park.