The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Taylor Eighmy, PhD, as the first president of the newly formed University of Texas at San Antonio. This decision follows a year-long process merging The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) into a single institution.
The merger aims to combine the strengths and resources of both universities to create a major public research university in Texas. When it officially launches on September 1, 2025, UT San Antonio will become the third-largest research university in the state, after UT Austin and Texas A&M. The new institution will serve more than 40,000 students with 320 academic programs and employ about 17,000 faculty and staff members. Its annual research expenditures are projected at $486 million, and it conducts over 500 active clinical trials each year. The economic impact is estimated to exceed $7 billion annually.
Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife commented on the appointment: “Just one year ago, the regents charged UTSA and UT Health San Antonio with fully maximizing the potential of both institutions to have the highest degree of impact on its students and patients and people across Texas. President Eighmy has guided the integration process with remarkable leadership, and he and his team have created great enthusiasm among both campuses and across the San Antonio community,” Eltife said. “We are proud of President Eighmy and his leadership of UTSA over the past eight years. He has consistently demonstrated that he is the best person to lead the new integrated institution going forward.”
Eighmy became president of UTSA in 2017. Under his leadership, UTSA achieved Carnegie R1 research status and established Texas’ first College focused on AI, Cybersecurity, and Computing. Earlier this year, he also served as Acting President for UT Health San Antonio while overseeing preparations for merging both campuses.
John M. Zerwas, MD, chancellor of the UT System, offered congratulations: “During the UT System’s work with President Eighmy on this incredible opportunity, we always admired his deep attention to every step along the way. He has inspired everyone to come together with the highest degree of collegiality and determination to move this work forward with all deliberate speed and creativity,” said Zerwas. “We thank President Eighmy and the many individuals who have contributed to this effort to date, and we also appreciate the excellent partnership between President Eighmy and Francisco Cigarroa, MD, who will lead UT San Antonio’s critically important health enterprise, UT Health San Antonio.”
The combined university is expected to build on existing strengths in artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, engineering education as well as biomedical research and clinical care. Among new initiatives is an MD/MSAI dual degree program designed to train physicians in applying AI for improved diagnostic procedures.
President Eighmy expressed gratitude for his appointment: “I am deeply grateful to Chairman Eltife and all the regents for bestowing upon me the privilege of leading the most exciting initiative in American higher education,” said Eighmy. “We’ve combined two superb institutions to form a new model for public research universities. UT San Antonio has unmatched opportunity, talent and momentum. We are uniquely positioned to become one of the most consequential and forward-driving universities in the United States.”
