Bio 

Before taking office as president of The University of Texas in February of this year, Bill Powers served as dean of UT’s School of Law, where he won recognition for recruiting a world-class faculty and attracting highly diverse and talented students.

A native of Los Angeles, President Powers received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from UC Berkeley in 1967.  After serving in the United States Navy, he attended Harvard Law School, where he was managing editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated magna cum laude in 1973. He taught at the University of Washington Law School before joining UT’s faculty in 1977.

In 1997, the University named him to its Academy of Distinguished Teachers. He has worked as a legal consultant with the U.S. Congress, the Brazilian legislature, and the Texas legislature. In 2001, he chaired a committee that examined the financial transactions of the Enron Corporation. The resulting report received widespread attention and has come to be known as “The Powers Report.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, please help me welcome the 28th president of The University of Texas at Austin, Bill Powers.