The American Dream Story of University of Texas at Arlington President Jennifer Cowley

By Office of Communication

Posted on August 21, 2023, August 21, 2023

Jennifer Cowley is living her American Dream right here in Arlington as the president of The University of Texas at Arlington.

The UT System Board of Regents named Cowley, who was provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of North Texas, as the sole finalist for the president of UT Arlington in January 2022. She began her new role that April. 

With an enrollment of more than 48,000 students, UT Arlington is one of the largest universities in Texas and one of the fastest growing in the country. UT Arlington is a model for large, urban institutions, ranking No. 1 in the nation by the Military Times for serving veterans and No. 5 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for undergraduate ethnic diversity.

UT Arlington achieved the prestigious Carnegie Research 1 designation in 2016 and in August was named a Texas Tier One institution. Both achievements require institutions to reach significant benchmarks of excellence in academics and research, and Cowley is responsible for qualitative growths in those areas.

Cowley holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in urban planning and doctorate in urban and regional science from Texas A&M University. In addition, she earned master’s degrees in public administration and interdisciplinary studies from UNT. Her research and work in urban planning has been published and referenced in numerous books, journals and publications.

Cowley grew up in Arlington attending summer camps and classes at UTA. She has taught an annual professional development workshop at UTA for the last decade.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to return my hometown to play a leadership role in shaping the future at UT Arlington, and I enthusiastically accept this opportunity and responsibility,” Cowley said in a statement in 2022. “I am eager to begin working with faculty, staff, students, alumni, the UT System, and the broader metroplex and statewide communities to help UTA achieve its full potential as it serves the people of Texas through education and discovery.”

To view more American Dream Stories, click here.