University of Texas chancellor, James B. Milliken, appointed as University of California president
Chancellor James B. Milliken Steps Up as the Next University of California President
James B. Milliken, the chancellor of the University of Texas, is soon to take the helm as the new president of the University of California. Milliken's selection, announced by the UC Board of Regents on a Friday afternoon, comes at a critical juncture for the California university system and higher education across the nation.
The Trump administration's crackdown on higher education, targeting so-called "woke" and "Marxist" ideologies and slashing federal support for research, has put University of California and other top-tier universities under immense pressure. Milliken, 68, brings more than 25 years of experience leading public university systems, including in deep red and blue states, to the table.
Milliken takes over on August 1, following Michael V. Drake, who will step down on July 31 after serving since 2020. In a light-hearted departure statement, Drake congratulated Milliken and humorously remarked, "These jobs aren’t as easy as they look."
Milliken's leadership will be critical during this challenging time, as the UC system faces investigations and funding threats from the Trump administration that could reshape its research, admission practices, and diversity initiatives while also grappling with potential budget cuts from Sacramento.
In his remarks to the California Board of Regents, Milliken addressed the turbulent times ahead, stating, "We need to do everything we can to right that ship, to address those challenges head-on." He expressed optimism about the university's enduring values and the transformative power of public higher education. "Education and, particularly, public higher education is the most effective bridge we have found to connect talent and opportunity," Milliken emphasized.
Born and raised in Nebraska, Milliken has an extensive academic background. He began his career in academia in Nebraska, serving as a faculty member and secretary to the Board of Regents. He also worked as a Wall Street lawyer before returning to academia. Milliken's career spans nearly four decades, during which he has consistently prioritized increasing access to higher education for low-income and first-generation students, the importance of immigrant students, and promoting diversity in enrollment.
Milliken's predecessor, Drake, previously served as the president of the University of California‒Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Irvine, before being appointed president of the entire system in 2018. Under Drake's tenure, UCLA and UC Berkeley faced investigations into antisemitism, with UCLA and UC Berkeley also facing additional antisemitism probes. California's attorney general has also supported lawsuits against the administration over cuts to higher education funding.
As Milliken assumes his new position, he will inherit a university system facing both financial and political challenges. Research projects in the UC system rely heavily on federal funding, with approximately $1 billion, or roughly 10%, of UCLA's budget coming from Washington, a figure that leaders say cannot be replaced by endowments or other funds if lost.
University of California Orders Hiring Freeze, Cuts in Response to Trump Threats
With the threat of federal funds being pulled from universities, including medical and scientific research, the University of California announced a hiring freeze and additional cuts in an effort to brace for potential reductions in funding. Milliken, who will relocate from Austin to the Bay Area this summer, will receive a salary of $1.475 million, compared to Drake's $1.308 million.
UC under Fire
The University of California system has found itself at the center of Trump's higher education targets, resulting in federal investigations into alleged antisemitism, scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and the selective admissions process. federal lawyers are probing UC's admissions process, claiming it illegally considers race in admission. Investigations into antisemitism have been launched at several UC campuses, including UCLA and UC Berkeley.
Impact on Higher Education in Texas
During Milliken's leadership in Texas, the University of Texas system has seen an increase in enrollment, improved transfers from community colleges, and the establishment of a $500-million endowment for full tuition grants for in-state students from families making under $100,000 annually. Critics argue, however, that Milliken has not significantly challenged Trump and the state's Republican initiatives to reshape campuses. In 2024, the year after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state colleges, Milliken testified that the University of Texas closed 21 DEI offices, removed 311 DEI-related jobs, and canceled more than 600 contracts connected to diversity issues.
- The upcoming presidency of the University of California will be occupied by James B. Milliken, who currently serves as the chancellor of the University of Texas.
- Milliken's appointment, announced by the UC Board of Regents, comes at a critical time for the California university system and higher education across the nation.
- The Trump administration's policies towards higher education have put the University of California under immense pressure, targeting certain ideologies and slashing federal research support.
- Milliken, with over 25 years of experience leading public university systems, will bring his expertise to navigating this challenging time for the UC system.
- Milliken will succeed Michael V. Drake, who will step down on July 31 after serving since 2020, and assumes his new position on August 1.
- In his remarks to the California Board of Regents, Milliken expressed optimism about the university's enduring values and the transformative power of public higher education.
- Born and raised in Nebraska, Milliken's career spans nearly four decades and has been focused on increasing access to higher education for underrepresented groups.
- The UC system, under Milliken's leadership, will face investigations and funding threats from the Trump administration, which could impact research, admission practices, and diversity initiatives, as well as potential budget cuts from Sacramento.
- Research projects in the UC system heavily rely on federal funding, with approximately $1 billion of UCLA's budget coming from Washington.
- To brace for potential reductions in funding, the University of California has announced a hiring freeze and additional cuts.
- The University of California system has been at the center of Trump's higher education targets, resulting in federal investigations into alleged antisemitism, scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and the selective admissions process.
