UT-Austin’s president Greg Fenves planning to leave, according to reports

The president of the University of Texas at Austin is expected to leave for Atlanta’s Emory University, according to the Austin American-Statesman and The Texas Tribune.

Both reports late Monday night cited anonymous sourcing. The Tribune said Greg Fenves, who became UT-Austin’s president in 2015, could not be reached for comment immediately.

Citing a “high-ranking UT official,” the American-Statesman said that Fenves would take a similar position at Emory and that the UT System’s regents probably will discuss a temporary replacement for him next week. An announcement of his departure is expected this week, the Tribune reported.

The official said the dean of the university’s business school, Jay Hartzell, is a likely candidate to take his place.

Fenves has in the past year had to deal with controversy over the the school’s handling of faculty found guilty of sexual misconduct. And in the past month, the coronavirus has forced all classes online and nearly shut down the campus. Fenves also dealt with the news that his wife, Carmel, and another family member had tested positive for the virus.

Fenves has been president of UT-Austin since 2015, after serving as executive vice president and provost, and as dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering.