UT-Austin Goes Inside For New Dean

Jay Hartzell has been named the new dean of McCombs

Jay Hartzell has been named the new dean of McCombs

The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin today (Dec. 18) named finance professor Jay Hartzell its new dean. Currently senior associate dean for academic affairs, Hartnell’s appointment begin Feb. 1.

Hartzell replaces Laura Starks, who has served as interim dean since Tom Gilligan stepped down earlier this year after a near seven-year stint.

“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,” said university President Gregory L. Fenves in a statement.

NEW DEAN CAME TO UT FROM STERN SCHOOL

After teaching at the Stern School of Business at New York University, Hartzell came to UT Austin in 2001 as an assistant professor of finance. He became executive director of the McCombs School’s Real Estate Finance and Investment Center in 2007 and served as chair of the department of finance from 2011 to 2014.

As chair, he created the one-year Master of Science in Finance degree and started the Undergraduate Real Estate Certificate Program, which provides expertise on a broad range of industry specialties and real estate certification to undergraduate students of any major.

“This program is an excellent example of the interdisciplinary collaboration that I would like to increase across campus,” added Fenves.

MCCOMBS CALLS IT ‘A WISE APPOINTMENT’

Red McCombs, the school’s namesake, called the announcement a great day for the University of Texas family. “Jay has worked tirelessly to see that business students at Texas are prepared for leadership challenges facing our state, our nation and the world,” said McCombs in a statement. “I congratulate President Fenves on a wise appointment.”

Hartzell’s research focuses on real estate finance, corporate finance and corporate governance. Students have recognized him numerous times for his teaching, twice voting him an Outstanding Core Instructor in the MBA program.

He earned his B.S. in business administration and economics from Trinity University and his Ph.D. in finance at UT Austin in 1998.

“It is an enormous honor to be selected as the next dean of the McCombs School,” said Hartzell. “Befitting its reputation as one of the best business schools in the nation for research and teaching, the McCombs School is in a great position to advance even further among the elite institutions. We will continue to find new ways to expand and capitalize on our many strengths, including top faculty, outstanding students, talented staff, great industry partners, and a passionate alumni base.”

“Jay represents our highest ideals as an influential researcher in the field of finance, an innovative and effective teacher, and an inventive academic leader,” said Starks. “I’m thrilled by his selection, and I know it will energize and inspire the entire McCombs School community.”

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