New President of the University of Texas at Dallas
Prabhas Moghe is officially the University of Texas at Dallas’ next president after the UT System Board of Regents approved his selection.
After a national search for the position, the regents selected the bioengineer as the sole finalist in early May.
Moghe is currently the executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Rutgers, New Jersey’s flagship public university.
Background and Experience
He succeeds Richard Benson, who led UTD for nearly nine years.
In a statement to the UT Dallas community, Kevin Eltife, chairman of the system’s Board of Regents, said Moghe will replace Benson effective Aug. 2.
“With Dr. Moghe’s distinguished background as an educator, researcher, and administrator, UTD is poised to continue its great trajectory forward,” Eltife said. “Prabhas and Ameena Moghe are eager to meet you, and we look forward to welcoming them to campus in a few months.”
Leadership and Vision
Moghe will oversee nearly 30,000 students across seven schools. UTD has emerged as a top research institution and one of the fastest-growing schools in the nation.
He steps into the role as university leaders across Texas — and the nation — face a higher education landscape under increased scrutiny.
It‘s also at a time when other longtime leaders in the UT system are leaving as well — including Milliken and UT-Austin’s president Jay Hartzell.
Challenges and Opportunities
“Dr. Moghe’s record of strengthening educational pathways and propelling research agendas forward reflect many of UT Dallas’s strengths and continued aspirations,” Milliken said in a statement when Moghe was named the sole finalist. “He has a deep appreciation for UTD’s mission and extraordinary ascendancy among top universities.”
Since 2020, Moghe has managed the academic, research and faculty support programs at Rutgers across four campuses and 29 academic units.
Under his tenure, the university rose in national ranking and boosted research funding to nearly $1 billion, according to a release from the UT System.
Previous Leadership and Achievements
Benson came to UTD in 2016 and oversaw dramatic advances — the school grew in enrollment, moved up to NCAA Division II in athletics and secured government projects worth millions.
UTD — which joined the UT System in 1969 — has long aimed to be a research powerhouse, earning the coveted R1 status for top research institutions in 2016. The school has more than doubled its federally funded research expenditures to more than $80 million in 2024.
Current Challenges
Although the school is on an upward trajectory, Moghe steps into the role as state and federal leaders closely watch how college campuses respond to political issues. The Trump administration’s cuts to federal funding could impact research efforts.
College officials are navigating international students’ fears of deportation or the inability to return to the country as the administration expands reasons students could be stripped of visas.
At least 19 UTD students recently had their visas revoked and then restored, university officials said. UTD had more than 5,500 international students from more than 110 countries enrolled last fall — more than any other UT institution — according to system reports.
Republican lawmakers want more accountability of state colleges they say are overta
