Jump to content

Gregory L. Fenves: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
The Moody Center is now opened
m Undid revision 1244349327 by 81.104.158.40 (talk) Unsourced.
Tags: Undo Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
 
(36 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American engineer and college administrator (born 1957)}}
{{Short description|American engineer and college administrator (born 1957)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2017}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gregory Fenves
|name = Greg Fenves
| image = Greg Fenves at LBJ Foundation (cropped).jpg
|image = Greg Fenves at LBJ Foundation (cropped).jpg
⚫
|office = 21st President of [[Emory University]]

⚫
|term_start = August 1, 2020
⚫
| order = 21st President of [[Emory University]]
⚫
|term_end =
⚫
| term_start = August 1, 2020
⚫
|predecessor = [[Claire E. Sterk]]
⚫
| term_end =
⚫
|successor =
⚫
| predecessor = [[Claire E. Sterk]]
⚫
|office2 = 29th [[List of University of Texas at Austin presidents|President of the University of Texas at Austin]]
⚫
| successor =
⚫
|term_start2 = June 3, 2015

|term_end2 = June 30, 2020
⚫
| order2 = 29th [[List of University of Texas at Austin presidents|President of the University of Texas at Austin]]
⚫
|predecessor2 = [[William Powers Jr.]]
⚫
| term_start2 = June 3, 2015
⚫
|successor2 = [[Jay Hartzell]]
| term_end2 = June 30, 2020<ref>{{cite web|title=Leaving UT This Summer|url=https://president.utexas.edu/messages-speeches-2020/leaving-ut-this-summer}}</ref>
⚫
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|3|1}}
⚫
| predecessor2 = [[William Powers Jr.]]
⚫
|birth_place = [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
⚫
| successor2 = [[Jay Hartzell]]
⚫
|education = [[Cornell University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[University of California, Berkeley]] ([[Master of Science|MS]], [[PhD]])

⚫
|website = {{url|president.emory.edu|Official website}}
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|03|01|mf=yes}}
⚫
| birth_place = [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| residence = [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
⚫
| education = [[Cornell University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) <br/> [[University of California, Berkeley]] ([[Master of Science in Engineering|MSE]], [[PhD]])
| profession = [[Structural Engineer]], [[Academic]]
⚫
| website = {{URL|https://president.emory.edu/|Office of the President}}
}}
}}
'''Gregory Louis Fenves''' (born March 1, 1957) is an American engineer and academic who is the 21st president of [[Emory University]]. He previously served as the [[President of the University of Texas at Austin]] from 2015 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leaving UT This Summer|date=April 7, 2020 |url=https://president.utexas.edu/messages-speeches-2020/leaving-ut-this-summer}}</ref>


⚫
Fenves was elected a member of the [[National Academy of Engineering]] in 2014 for contributions to computational modeling, creation of open source software for earthquake engineering analysis, and academic leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.utexas.edu/2014/02/06/four-ut-austin-engineers-elected-to-national-academy |title=Four UT Austin Engineers Elected to National Academy|date=February 6, 2014|website=UT News|accessdate=February 2, 2019}}</ref>
'''Gregory Louis Fenves''' (born March 1, 1957) is a structural engineer, professor and college administrator who is the twenty-first president of [[Emory University]] in Atlanta, Georgia.

⚫
Fenves was elected a member of the [[National Academy of Engineering]] in 2014 for contributions to computational modeling, creation of open source software for earthquake engineering analysis, and academic leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.utexas.edu/2014/02/06/four-ut-austin-engineers-elected-to-national-academy |title=Four UT Austin Engineers Elected to National Academy|accessdate=February 2, 2019}}</ref>


== Education and career ==
== Education and career ==
Fenves was educated at [[Cornell University]] where he received a bachelor's degree (BS) in engineering with distinction in 1979 and was a member of the [[Quill and Dagger]] society.<ref>[http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20150327-ut-presidential-finalist-praised-on-campus-but-some-regents-skeptical.ece UT presidential finalist Gregory Fenves praised on campus, but some regents are skeptical]</ref> He went on to earn a master's degree (MSE) in 1980 and a PhD in 1984 from the [[University of California, Berkeley]].
Fenves was educated at [[Cornell University]] where he received a bachelor's degree (BS) in engineering with distinction in 1979 and was a member of the [[Quill and Dagger]] society.<ref>{{cite web | title=UT presidential finalist Gregory Fenves praised on campus, but some regents are skeptical|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2015/03/28/ut-presidential-finalist-gregory-fenves-praised-on-campus-but-some-regents-are-skeptical/ |date=March 27, 2015|website=[[Dallas Morning News]]|access-date=August 27, 2023}}</ref> He went on to earn a master's degree (MSE) in 1980 and a PhD in 1984 from the [[University of California, Berkeley]].


He began his career as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]] from 1984 to 1987. He was on the faculty of [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]] for more than 20 years and served as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2002 to 2007.
He began his career as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]] from 1984 to 1987. He was on the faculty of [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]] for more than 20 years and served as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2002 to 2007.

He is an internationally recognized structural engineer and led the development of one of the most widely used open-source software platforms in the civil engineering profession. He was one of the pioneers in developing wireless sensor networks for assessing the structural health of buildings, bridges and infrastructure and has focused his research on the simulation of structures subjected to earthquakes.


In 2008, he was appointed as the eighth dean of the [[Cockrell School of Engineering]] at [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]] and served in that capacity for five years. From 2013 to 2015, he was appointed to the role as executive vice president and provost of [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]].  Fenves then served as the twenty-ninth president of [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]] from June 2015 to June 2020.
In 2008, he was appointed as the eighth dean of the [[Cockrell School of Engineering]] at [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]] and served in that capacity for five years. From 2013 to 2015, he was appointed to the role as executive vice president and provost of [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]].  Fenves then served as the twenty-ninth president of [[University of Texas at Austin|UT Austin]] from June 2015 to June 2020.
Line 43: Line 35:
=== The University of Texas at Austin ===
=== The University of Texas at Austin ===


In 2015, his administration successfully defended UT Austin's admissions practices before the [[Supreme Court of the United States|US Supreme Court]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/us/politics/supreme-court-affirmative-action-university-of-texas.html|title=Supreme Court Upholds Affirmative Action Program at University of Texas|last=Liptak|first=Adam |date=June 23, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 14, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The landmark ruling in the [[Fisher v. University of Texas (2016)|Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin]] case enabled UT Austin to continue using race as a factor in its admissions process.<ref name=":1" />
In 2015, his administration successfully defended UT Austin's admissions practices before the [[Supreme Court of the United States|US Supreme Court]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/us/politics/supreme-court-affirmative-action-university-of-texas.html|title=Supreme Court Upholds Affirmative Action Program at University of Texas|last=Liptak|first=Adam |date=June 23, 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 14, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The landmark ruling in the [[Fisher v. University of Texas (2016)|Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin]] case enabled UT Austin to continue using race as a factor in its admissions process.<ref name=":1" />


Fenves was instrumental in the founding of UT Austin's Dell Medical School — the first medical school in nearly 50 years to be built from the ground up at a top-tier research university — which opened in 2016 <ref>{{Cite web|last=Flores|first=Nancy|title=Dell Medical School reflects on first 5 years, sets new goals|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190521/dell-medical-school-reflects-on-first-5-years-sets-new-goals|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en}}</ref> and graduated its inaugural class of physicians in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andu|first=Naomi|date=2020-05-22|title=After an "anticlimactic" virtual goodbye, Dell Medical School's inaugural class heads to the front lines of the pandemic|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/22/ut-dell-medical-school-graduation-coronavirus/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref>
Fenves was instrumental in the founding of UT Austin's [[Dell Medical School]] — the first medical school in nearly 50 years to be built from the ground up at a top-tier research university — which opened in 2016 <ref>{{Cite web|last=Flores|first=Nancy|title=Dell Medical School reflects on first 5 years, sets new goals|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190521/dell-medical-school-reflects-on-first-5-years-sets-new-goals|access-date=2020-07-16|website=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|date=May 21, 2019| language=en}}</ref> and graduated its inaugural class of physicians in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andu|first=Naomi|date=2020-05-22|title=After an "anticlimactic" virtual goodbye, Dell Medical School's inaugural class heads to the front lines of the pandemic|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/22/ut-dell-medical-school-graduation-coronavirus/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=[[The Texas Tribune]]|language=en}}</ref>


In 2017 Fenves received the "Guardian of the Human Spirit" award from [[Holocaust Museum Houston]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://alcalde.texasexes.org/2017/11/president-fenves-honored-by-holocaust-museum-houston/|title=President Fenves Honored by Holocaust Museum Houston|date=November 3, 2017|website=The Alcalde|access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, he received the "Hope for Humanity" award from the [[Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dallasweekly.com/news/metro/article_f1e71626-dc50-11e8-a4b4-4305619df8e3.html|title=Dallas Holocaust Museum to Honor University of Texas at Austin President Gregory L. Fenves at Hope for Humanity Dinner|website=The Dallas Weekly|access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref> During the acceptance speeches for both awards, Fenves discussed his family's history of loss and survival during the holocaust.
In 2017 Fenves received the "Guardian of the Human Spirit" award from [[Holocaust Museum Houston]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sokolove|first=Sofia|url=https://alcalde.texasexes.org/2017/11/president-fenves-honored-by-holocaust-museum-houston/|title=President Fenves Honored by Holocaust Museum Houston|date=November 3, 2017|website=The Alcalde|access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, he received the "Hope for Humanity" award from the [[Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dallasweekly.com/news/metro/article_f1e71626-dc50-11e8-a4b4-4305619df8e3.html|title=Dallas Holocaust Museum to Honor University of Texas at Austin President Gregory L. Fenves at Hope for Humanity Dinner|website=The Dallas Weekly|access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref> During the acceptance speeches for both awards, Fenves discussed his family's history of loss and survival during the holocaust.


In 2018, UT Austin posted the highest four-year graduation rates in the university's history, 69.8%, an increase of over 17 percentage points since 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2018/09/28/ut-austin’s-four-year-graduation-rate-reaches-all-time-high-despite-failing-2012-goal|title=UT-Austin’s four-year graduation rate reaches all-time high, despite failing 2012 goal - The Daily Texan|website=www.dailytexanonline.com|access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>
In 2018, UT Austin posted the highest four-year graduation rates in the university's history, 69.8%, an increase of over 17 percentage points since 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Menchaca|first=Megan|url=https://thedailytexan.com/2018/09/28/ut-austins-four-year-graduation-rate-reaches-all-time-high-despite-failing-2012-goal/|title=UT-Austin's four-year graduation rate reaches all-time high, despite failing 2012 goal|date=September 28, 2018|work=[[The Daily Texan]]|access-date=August 27, 2023}}</ref>


In 2018, Fenves introduced the Texas Advance Commitment to increase affordability by providing assured financial aid for low- and middle-income UT Austin students.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jankowski|first=Philip|title=Attend UT for free? After Tuesday vote, 21% of undergrads could|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190709/attend-ut-for-free-after-tuesday-vote-21-of-undergrads-could|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en}}</ref> In 2019, the UT System Board of Regents approved additional funding from the Permanent University Fund,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Friedman|first=Zack|title=University Of Texas Announces Tuition-Free College Program|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2019/07/11/texas-student-loans/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> which now ensures full tuition coverage at The University of Texas at Austin for in-state students with need from families earning up to $65,000 per year and some guaranteed support for those from families earning up to $125,000 per year. In 2020, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation made a historic gift of $100 million to expand resources and support for all Pell Grant eligible students at UT Austin.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-01|title=How UT, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation are collaborating to support students of Texas|url=https://news.utexas.edu/2020/05/01/how-ut-michael-susan-dell-foundation-are-collaborating-to-support-students-of-texas/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=UT News|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2018, Fenves introduced the Texas Advance Commitment to increase affordability by providing assured financial aid for low- and middle-income UT Austin students.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jankowski|first=Philip|title=Attend UT for free? After Tuesday vote, 21% of undergrads could|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190709/attend-ut-for-free-after-tuesday-vote-21-of-undergrads-could|date=July 9, 2019|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en}}</ref> In 2019, the UT System Board of Regents approved additional funding from the Permanent University Fund,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Friedman|first=Zack|title=University Of Texas Announces Tuition-Free College Program|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2019/07/11/texas-student-loans/|access-date=2020-07-16|date=July 11, 2019|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> which now ensures full tuition coverage at The University of Texas at Austin for in-state students with need from families earning up to $65,000 per year and some guaranteed support for those from families earning up to $125,000 per year. In 2020, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation made a historic gift of $100 million to expand resources and support for all Pell Grant eligible students at UT Austin.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-01|title=How UT, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation are collaborating to support students of Texas|url=https://news.utexas.edu/2020/05/01/how-ut-michael-susan-dell-foundation-are-collaborating-to-support-students-of-texas/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=UT News|language=en-US}}</ref>


In October 2019, students protested outside the provost's office, calling for more transparency and accountability when the university responds to alleged sexual misconduct violations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-25|title=UT students protest over professors’ reported sexual misconduct allegations|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/ut-students-protest-over-professors-reported-sexual-misconduct/|access-date=2020-08-17|website=KXAN Austin|language=en-US}}</ref> A month later, in a letter to the UT community, the university said it would hire “outside experts” to support efforts to address the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Korte|first=Lara|title=UT to hire outside experts to analyze sexual misconduct procedures|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20191107/ut-to-hire-outside-experts-to-analyze-sexual-misconduct-procedures|access-date=2020-08-17|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en}}</ref> UT Austin subsequently formed a working group and hired an external law firm, Husch Blackwell, to review the university's sexual misconduct policies and its efforts to prevent and respond to allegations of sex discrimination. The firm concluded the first phase of its review and delivered recommendations, which Fenves accepted in March. Husch Blackwell continued its review and in July provided the university with additional recommendations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sexual Misconduct|url=https://news.utexas.edu/key-issues/faculty-misconduct/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=UT News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-02|title=Changing Sexual Misconduct Policies at UT Austin|url=https://president.utexas.edu/messages-speeches-2020/changing-sexual-misconduct-policies-ut-austin|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Office of the President|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Husch Blackwell Update - July 8 {{!}} Misconduct Working Group {{!}} The University of Texas at Austin|url=https://misconductworkinggroup.utexas.edu/news/husch-blackwell-update-july-8|access-date=2020-07-21|website=misconductworkinggroup.utexas.edu}}</ref>
In October 2019, students protested outside the provost's office, calling for more transparency and accountability when the university responds to alleged sexual misconduct violations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ramirez|first=Marco|date=2019-10-25|title=UT students protest over professors' reported sexual misconduct allegations|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/ut-students-protest-over-professors-reported-sexual-misconduct/|access-date=2020-08-17|website=[[KXAN]]|language=en-US}}</ref> A month later, in a letter to the UT community, the university said it would hire “outside experts” to support efforts to address the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Korte|first=Lara|title=UT to hire outside experts to analyze sexual misconduct procedures|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20191107/ut-to-hire-outside-experts-to-analyze-sexual-misconduct-procedures|access-date=2020-08-17|website=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|date=2019-11-07|language=en}}</ref> UT Austin subsequently formed a working group and hired an external law firm, Husch Blackwell, to review the university's sexual misconduct policies and its efforts to prevent and respond to allegations of sex discrimination. The firm concluded the first phase of its review and delivered recommendations, which Fenves accepted in March. Husch Blackwell continued its review and in July provided the university with additional recommendations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sexual Misconduct|url=https://news.utexas.edu/key-issues/faculty-misconduct/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=UT News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-02|title=Changing Sexual Misconduct Policies at UT Austin|url=https://president.utexas.edu/messages-speeches-2020/changing-sexual-misconduct-policies-ut-austin|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Office of the President|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Husch Blackwell Update - July 8|url=https://misconductworkinggroup.utexas.edu/news/husch-blackwell-update-july-8|access-date=2020-07-21|website=The University of Texas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225225603/https://misconductworkinggroup.utexas.edu/news/husch-blackwell-update-july-8|archive-date=February 25, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>


Fenves conceived of a unique public-private partnership, which led to the construction of UT Austin's new basketball arena and events venue — now known as Moody Center, because of a $130 million gift from the Moody Foundation — which opened in late 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barden|first=Melanie|date=2019-12-03|title=UT breaks ground on new basketball arena, the Moody Center|url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/ut-breaks-ground-on-new-basketball-arena-the-moody-center|access-date=2020-07-16|website=KEYE}}</ref>
Fenves conceived of a unique public-private partnership, which led to the construction of UT Austin's new basketball arena and events venue — now known as Moody Center, because of a $130 million gift from the Moody Foundation — which opened in late 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barden|first=Melanie|date=2019-12-03|title=UT breaks ground on new basketball arena, the Moody Center|url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/ut-breaks-ground-on-new-basketball-arena-the-moody-center|access-date=2020-07-16|website=KEYE}}</ref>


⚫
On April 7, 2020, it was announced that Fenves would be leaving the University of Texas at Austin to become the president of [[Emory University]], succeeding outgoing president [[Claire E. Sterk]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/06/ut-president-greg-fenves-leaving-texas-flagship-emory-university/|title=UT-Austin President Greg Fenves leaving Texas flagship for Emory University, source says|last=Najmabadi|first=Shannon|date=2020-04-07|website=[[The Texas Tribune]]|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Emory Welcomes its Next President|url=http://executivesearch.emory.edu/president/index.html|access-date=2022-03-16|website=executivesearch.emory.edu|language=en}}</ref>
On March 13, 2020, Fenves announced that his wife Carmel had contracted [[SARS-CoV-2]] after a trip to New York City. In an open letter to UT Austin staff, faculty, and students, Fenves stated his wife began exhibiting flu-like symptoms after their trip, during which they attended several events with alumni and students, and was tested positive for [[COVID-19]]. Both Fenves, his wife, and an additional family member are in self-isolation, and the president has advised community members to follow CDC preventative measures against the spread of the virus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Drew |title=University of Texas president's wife tests positive for coronavirus |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/ut-austin-presidents-wife-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/269-13f8b439-61b2-4233-b426-69982ecf3aa7 |website=[[KVUE (Texas)|KVUE]] |accessdate=14 March 2020}}</ref>


=== Emory University ===
Two days later, Fenves tested negative for coronavirus.


On April 25, 2024, students in a protest encampment for the Stop Cop City movement and in solidarity with Palestinians were confronted by the Emory police, the Atlanta Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol. Police used chemical irritants and tasers on students, faculty, staff, and community members, and arrested 28 people. Those detained included Professors Noelle McAfee, the Chair of the Philosophy Department, Emil' Keme, and Caroline Fohlin, who was thrown to the ground by Emory Police.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Rosana |last2=Abusaid |first2=Shaddi |last3=Dalton |first3=Martha |last4=Silva |first4=Caroline |title=Protesters, police back at Emory hours after arrests |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/protesters-police-back-at-emory-university-in-atlanta-hours-after-arrests/KI3KCD5TANAIVGHFF5OTLXY5BA/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/noelle-mcafee-emory-philosophy-department-chair-detained-protests-interview/85-c8d4e714-9a62-4543-8f31-b9cbfe6fc50f |title=Emory Philosophy Department chair arrested in protests was concerned police presence would cause 'bedlam and mayhem' |date=April 26, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/attorney-says-economics-professor-arrested-during-emory-protest-was-not-a-protester/U3HLXWUSIBHQDDNHHVIIFH6OPE/ |title=Attorney says economics professor arrested during Emory protest 'was not a protester' }}</ref> In several public statements, Fenves erroneously claimed that the protests comprised outside agitators, a claim that appears to be false based on witnesses present at the protests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Harmeet |date=2024-04-27 |title=Examining the long history of the 'outside agitator' narrative |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/27/us/campus-protests-palestine-outside-agitator-cec/index.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> A day after these events, on April 26, faculty of Oxford College of Emory University passed a resolution to call for a vote of no confidence in Fenves and other senior administrators, and the Emory College faculty senate also moved to vote no confidence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faculty senate of Emory college calls for no-confidence vote for president |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/faculty-senate-of-emory-college-calls-for-no-confidence-vote-for-president/JFKZ3NJSYNCCTEHAD34JJQ3UQU/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=ajc |language=English}}</ref> On May 3, the Emory College of Arts and Sciences faculty voted 358–119 that they do not have confidence in Fenves.<ref>https://emorywheel.com/emory-college-faculty-vote-no-confidence-in-fenves/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
⚫
News outlets reported 3 weeks later, on April 7, 2020, that Fenves would be leaving the University of Texas at Austin to become the President of [[Emory University]], succeeding outgoing President [[Claire E. Sterk]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/06/ut-president-greg-fenves-leaving-texas-flagship-emory-university/|title=UT-Austin President Greg Fenves leaving Texas flagship for Emory University, source says|last=Najmabadi|first=Shannon|date=2020-04-07|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Emory Welcomes its Next President|url=http://executivesearch.emory.edu/president/index.html|access-date=2022-03-16|website=executivesearch.emory.edu|language=en}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==


Fenves' father's family are [[Jewish]], and multiple members of his father's side are [[Holocaust]] [[Holocaust survivors|survivors]], including his father, sister, some cousins, and his grandfather.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Haurwitz|first=Ralph K. M.|title=UT’s Fenves tells new U.S. citizens of his family’s Holocaust history|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2017/06/30/uts-fenves-tells-new-us-citizens-of-his-familys-holocaust-history/10097220007/|access-date=2022-03-16|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref>
Fenves' family is [[Jewish]], and multiple members of his father's side are [[Holocaust]] [[Holocaust survivors|survivors]], including his father, aunt, some cousins, and his grandfather.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Haurwitz|first=Ralph K. M.|title=UT's Fenves tells new U.S. citizens of his family's Holocaust history|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2017/06/30/uts-fenves-tells-new-us-citizens-of-his-familys-holocaust-history/10097220007/|access-date=2022-03-16|website=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|language=en-US}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 75: Line 67:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenves, Gregory}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenves, Gregory}}
[[Category:American people of Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:Cornell University College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:Cornell University College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:UC Berkeley College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:UC Berkeley College of Engineering alumni]]

Latest revision as of 15:37, 6 September 2024

Greg Fenves
21st President of Emory University
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 1, 2020
Preceded byClaire E. Sterk
29th President of the University of Texas at Austin
In office
June 3, 2015 – June 30, 2020
Preceded byWilliam Powers Jr.
Succeeded byJay Hartzell
Personal details
Born (1957-03-01) March 1, 1957 (age 67)
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
EducationCornell University (BS)
University of California, Berkeley (MS, PhD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Gregory Louis Fenves (born March 1, 1957) is an American engineer and academic who is the 21st president of Emory University. He previously served as the President of the University of Texas at Austin from 2015 to 2020.[1]

Fenves was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2014 for contributions to computational modeling, creation of open source software for earthquake engineering analysis, and academic leadership.[2]

Education and career

[edit]

Fenves was educated at Cornell University where he received a bachelor's degree (BS) in engineering with distinction in 1979 and was a member of the Quill and Dagger society.[3] He went on to earn a master's degree (MSE) in 1980 and a PhD in 1984 from the University of California, Berkeley.

He began his career as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at UT Austin from 1984 to 1987. He was on the faculty of UC Berkeley for more than 20 years and served as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2002 to 2007.

In 2008, he was appointed as the eighth dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering at UT Austin and served in that capacity for five years. From 2013 to 2015, he was appointed to the role as executive vice president and provost of UT Austin.  Fenves then served as the twenty-ninth president of UT Austin from June 2015 to June 2020.

On April 7, 2020, it was announced that Fenves would become the twenty-first president of Emory University, a position he assumed on August 1, 2020.[4]

The University of Texas at Austin

[edit]

In 2015, his administration successfully defended UT Austin's admissions practices before the US Supreme Court.[5] The landmark ruling in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case enabled UT Austin to continue using race as a factor in its admissions process.[5]

Fenves was instrumental in the founding of UT Austin's Dell Medical School — the first medical school in nearly 50 years to be built from the ground up at a top-tier research university — which opened in 2016 [6] and graduated its inaugural class of physicians in 2020.[7]

In 2017 Fenves received the "Guardian of the Human Spirit" award from Holocaust Museum Houston.[8] In 2018, he received the "Hope for Humanity" award from the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance.[9] During the acceptance speeches for both awards, Fenves discussed his family's history of loss and survival during the holocaust.

In 2018, UT Austin posted the highest four-year graduation rates in the university's history, 69.8%, an increase of over 17 percentage points since 2012.[10]

In 2018, Fenves introduced the Texas Advance Commitment to increase affordability by providing assured financial aid for low- and middle-income UT Austin students.[11] In 2019, the UT System Board of Regents approved additional funding from the Permanent University Fund,[12] which now ensures full tuition coverage at The University of Texas at Austin for in-state students with need from families earning up to $65,000 per year and some guaranteed support for those from families earning up to $125,000 per year. In 2020, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation made a historic gift of $100 million to expand resources and support for all Pell Grant eligible students at UT Austin.[13]

In October 2019, students protested outside the provost's office, calling for more transparency and accountability when the university responds to alleged sexual misconduct violations.[14] A month later, in a letter to the UT community, the university said it would hire “outside experts” to support efforts to address the issue.[15] UT Austin subsequently formed a working group and hired an external law firm, Husch Blackwell, to review the university's sexual misconduct policies and its efforts to prevent and respond to allegations of sex discrimination. The firm concluded the first phase of its review and delivered recommendations, which Fenves accepted in March. Husch Blackwell continued its review and in July provided the university with additional recommendations.[16][17][18]

Fenves conceived of a unique public-private partnership, which led to the construction of UT Austin's new basketball arena and events venue — now known as Moody Center, because of a $130 million gift from the Moody Foundation — which opened in late 2022.[19]

On April 7, 2020, it was announced that Fenves would be leaving the University of Texas at Austin to become the president of Emory University, succeeding outgoing president Claire E. Sterk.[20][21]

Emory University

[edit]

On April 25, 2024, students in a protest encampment for the Stop Cop City movement and in solidarity with Palestinians were confronted by the Emory police, the Atlanta Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol. Police used chemical irritants and tasers on students, faculty, staff, and community members, and arrested 28 people. Those detained included Professors Noelle McAfee, the Chair of the Philosophy Department, Emil' Keme, and Caroline Fohlin, who was thrown to the ground by Emory Police.[22][23][24] In several public statements, Fenves erroneously claimed that the protests comprised outside agitators, a claim that appears to be false based on witnesses present at the protests.[25] A day after these events, on April 26, faculty of Oxford College of Emory University passed a resolution to call for a vote of no confidence in Fenves and other senior administrators, and the Emory College faculty senate also moved to vote no confidence.[26] On May 3, the Emory College of Arts and Sciences faculty voted 358–119 that they do not have confidence in Fenves.[27]

Personal life

[edit]

Fenves' family is Jewish, and multiple members of his father's side are Holocaust survivors, including his father, aunt, some cousins, and his grandfather.[28]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Leaving UT This Summer". April 7, 2020.
  2. ^ "Four UT Austin Engineers Elected to National Academy". UT News. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  3. ^ "UT presidential finalist Gregory Fenves praised on campus, but some regents are skeptical". Dallas Morning News. March 27, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "Emory Board of Trustees names Gregory L. Fenves as 21st president". news.emory.edu. April 7, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Liptak, Adam (June 23, 2016). "Supreme Court Upholds Affirmative Action Program at University of Texas". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  6. ^ Flores, Nancy (May 21, 2019). "Dell Medical School reflects on first 5 years, sets new goals". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Andu, Naomi (May 22, 2020). "After an "anticlimactic" virtual goodbye, Dell Medical School's inaugural class heads to the front lines of the pandemic". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Sokolove, Sofia (November 3, 2017). "President Fenves Honored by Holocaust Museum Houston". The Alcalde. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  9. ^ "Dallas Holocaust Museum to Honor University of Texas at Austin President Gregory L. Fenves at Hope for Humanity Dinner". The Dallas Weekly. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Menchaca, Megan (September 28, 2018). "UT-Austin's four-year graduation rate reaches all-time high, despite failing 2012 goal". The Daily Texan. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Jankowski, Philip (July 9, 2019). "Attend UT for free? After Tuesday vote, 21% of undergrads could". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Friedman, Zack (July 11, 2019). "University Of Texas Announces Tuition-Free College Program". Forbes. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  13. ^ "How UT, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation are collaborating to support students of Texas". UT News. May 1, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Ramirez, Marco (October 25, 2019). "UT students protest over professors' reported sexual misconduct allegations". KXAN. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  15. ^ Korte, Lara (November 7, 2019). "UT to hire outside experts to analyze sexual misconduct procedures". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "Sexual Misconduct". UT News. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  17. ^ "Changing Sexual Misconduct Policies at UT Austin". Office of the President. March 2, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  18. ^ "Husch Blackwell Update - July 8". The University of Texas. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  19. ^ Barden, Melanie (December 3, 2019). "UT breaks ground on new basketball arena, the Moody Center". KEYE. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  20. ^ Najmabadi, Shannon (April 7, 2020). "UT-Austin President Greg Fenves leaving Texas flagship for Emory University, source says". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "Emory Welcomes its Next President". executivesearch.emory.edu. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  22. ^ Hughes, Rosana; Abusaid, Shaddi; Dalton, Martha; Silva, Caroline. "Protesters, police back at Emory hours after arrests". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  23. ^ "Emory Philosophy Department chair arrested in protests was concerned police presence would cause 'bedlam and mayhem'". April 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "Attorney says economics professor arrested during Emory protest 'was not a protester'".
  25. ^ Kaur, Harmeet (April 27, 2024). "Examining the long history of the 'outside agitator' narrative". CNN. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  26. ^ "Faculty senate of Emory college calls for no-confidence vote for president". ajc. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  27. ^ https://emorywheel.com/emory-college-faculty-vote-no-confidence-in-fenves/ [bare URL]
  28. ^ Haurwitz, Ralph K. M. "UT's Fenves tells new U.S. citizens of his family's Holocaust history". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Gregory_L._Fenves&oldid=1244353461"