Bryce Jordan

Bryce Jordan, an alumnus of UT Austin with a doctorate in historical musicology, was named interim president upon the departure of Norm Hackerman. He refused on principle to be considered for the presidency.

Born in Clovis, New Mexico, and raised in Abilene, Texas, he briefly attended Hardin-Simmons University before earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UT Austin. After a doctorate from the University of North Carolina, Jordan joined the faculty at the University of Maryland, which he left to chair the music department at the University of Kentucky. He came to Austin in 1965 as chair of the music department and would later become vice president of student affairs — his position when he was named interim president.

Jordan went on to become the first president of UT Dallas, and later, president of Penn State, which named its basketball arena for the UT Distinguished Alumnus.