The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Taylor Eighmy, PhD, as the first president of the newly merged University of Texas at San Antonio. This merger brings together The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), forming a single institution intended to advance education, research, health care, and innovation in the region.
The decision follows a year-long process aimed at combining the resources and expertise of both campuses. The new university is expected to play a significant role in supporting economic growth in the area.
Board Chairman Kevin P. Eltife commented on the leadership shown during this transition. “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. During his tenure, he led efforts that resulted in Carnegie R1 research status for UTSA, launched Texas’ first College focused on AI, Cybersecurity, and Computing, and strengthened ties with technology and national security sectors in San Antonio. Earlier this year, he was also appointed Acting President at UT Health San Antonio while overseeing preparations for merging both universities.
On September 1, 2025, when consolidation becomes official, UT San Antonio will become Texas’s third-largest research university by enterprise size—behind only UT Austin and Texas A&M.
John M. Zerwas, MD, chancellor of the UT System, acknowledged Eighmy’s work throughout this process: “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.”
With more than 40,000 students enrolled across 320 academic programs—and annual research expenditures totaling $486 million—the new university will also support over 500 clinical trials each year through its medical division. The combined workforce includes about 17,000 faculty members and staff; its estimated yearly economic impact exceeds $7 billion.
Among several initiatives underway is a dual MD/MSAI degree program designed to train physicians in applying artificial intelligence for improved patient care outcomes—a first-of-its-kind offering nationally.
President Eighmy expressed appreciation for being selected: “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.”
