Prabhas V. Moghe, a Rutgers chemical and bioengineer, is poised to be the next leader of University of Texas at Dallas. Moghe is currently the executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Rutgers. The UT System board of regents unanimously selected Moghe as the sole finalist for UTD president during a Wednesday special meeting.
Moghe will oversee nearly 30,000 students across seven schools within UTD. The university, which turns 56 in September, has emerged as a top research institution and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. Under Moghe’s tenure, Rutgers rose in national ranking and boosted research funding to nearly $1 billion, according to a release from the UT System.
As the chief academic officer, Moghe launched a five-year strategic initiative to promote interdisciplinary programs, recruit leading faculty and advance artificial intelligence and data science research. His background, like Benson, is in engineering. Moghe holds two degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Bombay in India and the University of Minnesota, and he completed postdoctoral training in bioengineering at Harvard Medical School.
Moghe, who joined Rutgers in 1995, is a distinguished professor of biomedical engineering, and chemical and biochemical engineering. In 2019, he was named provost and executive vice-chancellor for research and academic affairs at Rutgers-New Brunswick, one of Rutgers’ regional campuses. He will succeed Richard Benson, who led the university for more than eight years.
The next UTD president steps into the role as university leaders across Texas — and the nation — face a higher education landscape with increased scrutiny. It is also at a time when other longtime leaders in the system are leaving as well — including UT-Austin’s outgoing president Jay Hartzell and UT System Chancellor James Milliken.
Who is the new UTD president?
Moghe currently oversees academic affairs at Rutgers, New Jersey’s flagship public university. Since 2020, he has managed the academic, research and faculty support programs across four campuses and 29 academic units.
Under Moghe’s tenure, Rutgers rose in national ranking and boosted research funding to nearly $1 billion, according to a release from the UT System. As the chief academic officer, Moghe launched a five-year strategic initiative to promote interdisciplinary programs, recruit leading faculty and advance artificial intelligence and data science research.
What is UTD?
The school’s beginnings are traced to Texas Instruments, whose leaders wanted a stronger talent pipeline to the company. In 1961, the university launched as the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest. It joined the UT System in 1969.
The university, which is in Richardson, largely focused on STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math — but expanded offerings in the arts in recent years. Among its signature schools and programs are the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which focuses on new business launches; the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, which assists those with speech, language and hearing disorders; and various research labs focused on AI, biomedical devices, cybersecurity, wind energy and more.
Who is the outgoing UTD president?
Benson came to UTD in 2016, after holding high positions at Penn State and Virginia Tech. Under his leadership, UTD grew in enrollment, moved up to NCAA Division II and secured government projects worth millions. Benson worked to keep the university — which has long aimed to be a research powerhouse — on an upward trajectory.
During Benson’s tenure, UTD invested in major research, including $30 million in battery technology research, and opened a new building for biomedical engineering research in partnership with UT Southwestern. Benson also elevated the arts at UTD, which now has a cultural district, major art collections and significant fundraising for scholarships for student artists.
What does the national landscape of higher education look like?
Federal leaders are aiming to expand their reach into colleges, particularly with regard to what schools teach, who is hired and the political activities on campus. University leaders, including Benson, worry that the Trump administration’s slashes to federal funding could significantly impact research efforts.
In addition, President Donald Trump has signaled his administration will put pressure on universities that don’t comply with his demands for greater federal oversight, including in admission and hiring practices, such as the case with Harvard. College leaders are navigating fears of deportation among international students as the administration expands reasons why students could be stripped of visas.
What about in Texas?
Republican lawmakers are trying to exert more control over Texas universities they see as overtaken by liberal bias. The state’s public institutions are under increased scrutiny following a 2023 state law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public colleges and universities.
Now state lawmakers are debating a major overhaul at public universities that would shift more control over what’s taught and who is hired to politically connected regents. The proposal would also create a state ombudsman office that would investigate complaints against colleges. Many see the bill as an expansion of the state’s DEI ban — aiming to limit what’s taught in classrooms.
What politics on campus are under scrutiny?
Federal leaders and state lawmakers want to curb what they see as growing antisemitism on campuses. This comes after protests against the war in Gaza roiled universities across the nation last year. At UTD, 21 people were arrested in 2024 after students set up an encampment on campus overnight.
Over a dozen UTD students were indicted last month on misdemeanor charges related to the encampment. Now, students nationwide are protesting the Trump administration’s threats to deport international students who participated in demonstrations against the war.
In March, dozens of UTD students protested the arrest and potential deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who organized protests last year over the war. The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Prabhas V. Moghe, a renowned chemical and bioengineer, is set to become the next leader of the University of Texas at Dallas. With his impressive background in engineering and his experience as the chief academic officer at Rutgers, Moghe is well-equipped to lead UTD into a new era of growth and innovation. As the university navigates the complex landscape of higher education, Moghe’s leadership will be crucial in addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the new president of the University of Texas at Dallas?
A: Prabhas V. Moghe, a chemical and bioengineer, has been selected as the sole finalist for the position of president at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Q: What is Moghe’s background and experience?
A: Moghe is currently the executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Rutgers. He has a background in engineering and has held various leadership positions at Rutgers, including provost and executive vice-chancellor for research and academic affairs.
Q: What are the challenges facing the University of Texas at Dallas?
A: The university faces a range of challenges, including increased scrutiny from federal and state leaders, debates over diversity and inclusion, and concerns about the impact of federal funding cuts on research efforts.
Q: How will Moghe’s leadership address these challenges?
A: As the new president, Moghe will be responsible for navigating these challenges and finding ways to promote growth, innovation, and inclusivity at the university. His experience and background suggest that he is well-equipped to address these challenges and lead the university into a new era of success.
