Thursday, January 23, 2025 -- AUSTIN, TX – Chancellor James B. Milliken today announced the appointment of Taylor Eighmy, PhD, as Acting President of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), effective February 1, 2025. Dr. Eighmy will concurrently continue serving as President of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The UT System Board of Regents previously announced that Eighmy will become the first president of the integrated new university (UTSA and UT Health San Antonio) pending a successful review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in summer 2025. The merger is set to be finalized by September 1, 2025, with full operational integration expected to take up to three years.

“Since the Board of Regents approved the new integration plans last August, Dr. Eighmy has demonstrated effective leadership during the transition, leading the complex merger activities, and fostering strong collaborations as he works to align the institutions,” said Milliken. “At this time, there are clear advantages to having one president with decision-making authority, and we believe this move best positions the new UTSA for long-term success,” he added.

Since integrating UT Health San Antonio and UTSA requires steady and deep expertise from within the broad academic medicine and healthcare/clinical enterprise – including its financial and operational functions– Dr. Eighmy will continue to be supported by strong, experienced leadership teams at both institutions.

Part of Dr. Eighmy’s initial focus as UT Health San Antonio’s new acting president will be to develop a single, comprehensive leadership cabinet structure to accelerate the momentum of the merger and integration planning efforts. He will oversee the creation of a strategic plan that supports a seamless transition, ensuring the new institution continues to build on the excellence of its legacy institutions while establishing itself as the third-largest research university in Texas.

A recognized leader in public higher education, Dr. Eighmy has served as President of UTSA since 2017, spearheading strategic initiatives that have propelled the university’s national standing. His leadership has been marked by significant achievements, including:

Carnegie R1 designation: Securing UTSA’s classification as a top-tier research university.
Collaborative partnerships: Establishing key research and academic collaborations with federal, military, and industry partners.

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