Dr. Jennifer Cowley has served as president at UTA since 2022.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The president at the University of Texas at Arlington stepped down from her role on Monday, Aug. 31, according to a statement from the university. 

Dr. Jennifer Cowley has been serving in the role since 2022. She is the first woman to serve as the president of UTA and an Arlington native. 

“Serving as President of The University of Texas at Arlington for the past four and a half years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. As someone who grew up in Arlington, I found the opportunity to return home and serve this University to be especially meaningful,” Cowley said in a statement. “After much reflection, I feel this is the right time to return to the work that first drew me to higher education. I have informed Chancellor Zerwas of my desire to return to the faculty and devote the next chapter of my career to teaching, research, and service. I remain fully engaged in the work ahead and committed to supporting our students, faculty, staff, and community as Chancellor Zerwas appoints an interim president and UTA moves through this transition.”



This story continues below.

In addition to her role as university president, Cowley is a professor of public affairs and planning in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs. According to her profile on the UTA website, she “has dedicated her career to public service through leadership roles at national research universities, where she championed student success, engaged communities, created strategic collaborations, and advanced innovation.”

Cowley has remained visible in her role as president as the fall semester began at UTA on Aug. 17. Chancellor John M. Zerwas did not announce Cowley’s successor. 

“When she notified me of her intent to leave the presidency and return to the faculty, I felt immense gratitude that her commitment to remain part of the UTA community remains strong,” Zerwas said in a statement. “The ascendancy of UT Arlington under Dr. Cowley’s leadership has been magnificent. From student success outcomes to significant growth of the research enterprise, Dr. Cowley has led UTA with strategic purpose and compassion. Through her vision to look to the future of where our state is growing, UTA West was born. We have much to celebrate about UT Arlington and Dr. Cowley. The Board of Regents and I have never been more optimistic about the university’s future, thanks in great part to Dr. Cowley’s leadership. We are deeply committed to investing in its exciting future.”

According to UTA, she previously served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs for five years at the University of North Texas and 16 years at Ohio State University. Cowley also worked in city government in Amarillo and College Station before she entered academia. 

Cowley earned her Ph.D in urban and regional science, master’s degree in urban planning, and bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M University and master’s degrees in interdisciplinary studies and public administration from UNT.

You can read Cowley’s full statement below: 

Serving as President of The University of Texas at Arlington for the past four and a half years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. As someone who grew up in Arlington, I found the opportunity to return home and serve this University to be especially meaningful.

After much reflection, I feel this is the right time to return to the work that first drew me to higher education. I have informed Chancellor Zerwas of my desire to return to the faculty and devote the next chapter of my career to teaching, research, and service. I remain fully engaged in the work ahead and committed to supporting our students, faculty, staff, and community as Chancellor Zerwas appoints an interim president and UTA moves through this transition.

What I will treasure most about my time as president is all of the people who have worked to accomplish what we imagined for our future. Together, we have worked to turn our shared dreams into reality.

We strengthened our commitment to student success and access, welcoming record numbers of first-year students while expanding the support that helps Mavericks persist, graduate, and build meaningful lives and careers. We broadened the reach of Blaze Forward and earned national recognition for UTA’s work to advance student outcomes and community engagement.

We strengthened UTA as a great public research university, growing our research enterprise and reaffirming our place among the nation’s R1 universities. Through RISE 100, we are investing in the faculty who are building on our strengths, amplifying UTA’s research and academic impact for decades to come.

We also invested in UTA’s future. The School of Social Work and Smart Hospital, Maverick Hall, and the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Center opened their doors to a new generation of students. Construction is underway on our Life Sciences Building and University Center. And we laid the groundwork for UTA West, extending the promise of a UTA education to one of the fastest growing areas of our region.

These accomplishments matter. But what makes me proudest is how they happened.

The Chancellor and UT System Board of Regents offered their belief in our shared vision and provided resources to support our aspirations. Faculty brought their creativity and expertise to our classrooms, laboratories, studios, clinics, and communities. Staff cared deeply about our students and one another, often doing the unseen work that makes us a smarter, better University. Our student leaders engaged around issues that will make our University a better place for students. And our students each brought their aspirations, curiosity, resilience, and energy to UTA every day. Our alumni, supporters, community partners, and friends showed up for us because they believed in where this University is going.

I am particularly grateful to the members of our leadership team whose partnership, judgment, and commitment helped guide UTA through periods of both challenge and opportunity. Together we navigated headwinds that required us to adapt, innovate, and support one another.

To each of you at UTA, thank you.

Thank you for the long days and the extra effort. Thank you for the ideas you offered, the difficult questions you asked, and the problems you helped solve. Thank you for the kindness you showed to students and colleagues. And thank you for believing in UTA’s ability to create extraordinary impact across Texas and far beyond.

Universities endure because their missions are larger than any one person or any one moment. UTA’s future is bright because of the people who will continue carrying that mission forward. There is important work still ahead, and I have enormous confidence in this community and in what you will accomplish together.

Although my role at UTA is changing, my connection to this University is not ending. I look forward to rejoining the faculty and returning to teaching and research, where I will get to engage directly in mentoring our students. I am grateful to remain part of the Maverick community. And you’ll still see me walking around campus in our school colors, carrying that Maverick spirit forward.

As I conclude my service as president, I do so with tremendous gratitude for what we have accomplished together, deep affection for this community, and great optimism for UTA’s future. I will never lose sight of what a privilege it is to help shape the lives of our students. As an Arlington native, I could never have imagined that I would one day have the honor of serving as president of the University that means so much to this community

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your president. As always, Go Mavs!