Meet the Chair of the USU Board

Jennifer Cowley is the first female president of The University of Texas at Arlington and the 10th overall. She is also a professor of public affairs and planning in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs.

What are you excited for in your position as Chair of the USU Board?

I’m genuinely excited to help shine a spotlight on the amazing work urban-serving universities are doing across the country. Our institutions are right at the intersection of access, innovation, and community impact, and that makes them powerful engines of opportunity. As chair, I want to help us share our stories more broadly and learn from one another—because when we share what’s working, our students and communities benefit. I also really enjoy building connections across the USU network. There’s a real sense of camaraderie among leaders who understand both the challenges and the possibilities of serving urban students, and I look forward to helping us harness that collective energy.

What is something you are working on at UT Arlington that is illustrative of the agenda and vision for urban-serving universities?

At UT Arlington, we’re laser-focused on expanding opportunity and serving the needs of our region. A great example is UTA West, our new campus we are building to serve a growing part of our region – allowing us to bring a UTA education closer to where families live and work, we’re meeting students where they are. At the same time, we remain deeply committed to access and affordability through programs like Blaze Forward, which covers tuition and fees for students who meet income and other eligibility requirements. By creating flexible pathways and reducing barriers, we’re helping more people pursue their educational goals and strengthening the economic and social vitality of our communities.

What was a formative career experience that informed your interest in leadership in urban space?

Early in my career, I thought I might become a city manager. I was fascinated by how cities worked—the systems, the infrastructure, the decisions that shape daily life for people. That perspective gave me a strong foundation in thinking about opportunity, and it never left me. Even though my path led me to higher education, I’ve always thought of universities the way I think of cities: alive with energy, full of possibility, and able to change lives in profound ways. Leading an institution in an urban setting gives me the chance to bring those two passions together—helping students succeed while strengthening the communities we call home.

What does “urban serving” mean to you?

To me, “urban serving” is about being deeply connected to the city around us. It means designing education that fits into the real lives of our students—many of whom are working, commuting, or raising families while earning their degrees. It means conducting research that doesn’t just sit on a shelf but directly addresses the challenges facing our communities, whether that’s health disparities, infrastructure, or workforce needs. And it means keeping our doors wide open, so anyone in our region can see higher education as a place for them. At its heart, urban serving is about partnership—walking alongside our cities and communities to create prosperity and opportunity together.

How has USU benefited you and your institution?

USU has been such a valuable partner for me and for UT Arlington. It’s given us a platform to share what’s working on our campus, while also learning from the incredible innovations happening at our peer institutions. Just as importantly, it has raised the national visibility of urban-serving universities, reminding policymakers, funders, and the public of how vital we are to driving progress. For me personally, USU has been a community of colleagues who truly understand the opportunities and the challenges we face. Having that network of support makes us stronger leaders and helps us better serve our students.