The University of Texas System board of regents has named Prabhas Moghe the sole finalist to become the next president of UT Dallas. The decision was unanimous, made during a special meeting Wednesday.
Moghe comes from Rutgers University, where he currently serves as executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer. His academic background includes chemical and bioengineering.
State law requires a waiting period of at least 21 days after naming a finalist before the regents can officially hire a university president.
At Rutgers, Moghe has overseen academic, research, and faculty support programs across four campuses and 29 academic units since 2020. Under Moghe’s tenure, Rutgers rose up in national ranking and boosted research funding to nearly $1 billion, according to a release from the UT System.
He also launched a five-year strategic initiative focusing on interdisciplinary programs, faculty recruitment, and research in artificial intelligence and data science.
Moghe will succeed Richard Benson, who led UT Dallas for eight years. During Benson’s tenure, the university grew enrollment and moved to NCAA Division II.
UT Dallas has emerged as a top research institution, achieving R1 status in 2016, and is one of the fastest-growing universities in the nation. The university has increased federally funded research expenditures.
The leadership change comes as university leaders across Texas and the nation face increased scrutiny. State lawmakers are debating a major overhaul at public universities that could shift control over curriculum and hiring to regents. This follows a 2023 state law that banned diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Additionally, federal leaders are aiming to expand their reach into colleges regarding teaching, hiring, and political activities on campus. College officials are also addressing international students’ concerns as the administration expands reasons why students could be stripped of visas.
Other longtime leaders in the UT System are also departing, including UT System Chancellor James Milliken and UT Austin president Jay Hartzell.
