John Zerwas, current UT System executive vice chancellor for health affairs, will take over as acting chancellor of the UT System June 1. The announcement comes as current Chancellor JB Milliken is set to take over as president of the University of California system Aug. 1.

The chancellor oversees the system’s 14 institutions, including UT Austin.

“Dr. Zerwas has worked with regents over the five past years on initiatives that not only are strengthening the capabilities of the system’s vast health enterprise but also implementing new partnerships between UT’s academic universities and health institutions to broaden educational, research, clinical, and operational opportunities across the entire board,” said Kevin P. Eltife, UT System Regents’ Chairman.

Milliken will remain chancellor until May 30 before moving to the role of special adviser to assist with the transition process in June.

“The board and I are grateful for our close and very productive relationship with (Milliken), and we are proud of what we accomplished together. He has led the UT System admirably and innovatively,” Eltife said.

Zerwas has served as executive vice chancellor for health affairs since October 2019, where he oversees UT’s five health institutions. He has also served seven terms in the Texas House of Representatives where he spent time as the chairman of the House Higher Education Committee.

“We continue to have the benefit of Dr. Zerwas’ long and distinguished service in the Texas Legislature as a higher education advocate and budget expert,” Eltife said. “It has served our UT institutions well.”

Zerwas attended the University of Houston and graduated with a doctorate in medicine from the Baylor College of Medicine. He has previously served as president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and as the Memorial Hermann Hospital System’s chief medical officer.