UT Austin Appoints Jay Hartzell as New Dean of McCombs School

The University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business has recently appointed Jay Hartzell – currently the senior associate dean for academic affairs – as dean of the McCombs School.

In addition to his position as senior associate dean, Hartzell is the Trammell Crow Regents Professor in the Department of Finance at McCombs. His new appointment began on February 1, 2016.

Hartzell has been with UT Austin since 2001, when he came to Austin from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Beginning as an assistant professor of finance, Hartzell quickly rose to executive director of the McCombs School’s Real Estate Finance and Investment Center, and ultimately served from 2011 to 2014 as chair of the Department of Finance. Hartzell had a number of accomplishments in his position as chair, including creating both the one-year Master of Science in Finance degree and the Undergraduate Real Estate Certificate Program.

Gregory L. Fenves, university president, expressed his pleasure at Hartzell’s appointment: “Jay is an outstanding scholar and engaged member of UT’s academic community, and I am enthusiastic about his leadership as McCombs continues to be a national innovator in business education and research.”

Hartzell began his education in business with a B.S. in business administration and economics from Trinity University, followed by a Ph.D. in finance at UT Austin in 1998. His current research looks mainly at real estate and corporate finance, as well as corporate governance. He has twice been voted an Outstanding Core Instructor in the MBA program by his students.

With his appointment, Hartzell replaced interim dean Laura Starks, who has been serving in the position since Tom Gilligan stepped down. “I’m thrilled by this selection,” says Starks, “and I know it will energize and inspire the entire McCombs School Community.”

regions: Dallas / Houston

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