Ralph J. Hexter appointed interim provost at the University of California

University of California President James B. Milliken today announced the appointment of Ralph J. Hexter as systemwide interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, effective September 1, 2026. Hexter will serve in the role until the University's next permanent provost is appointed.

"Ralph is an accomplished scholar and experienced academic leader who understands the University of California and shares our commitment to its public mission," Milliken said. "His sound judgment, collaborative approach, and breadth of experience as a faculty member, dean, provost, chancellor and college president will serve UC exceptionally well. I am grateful that he has agreed to return to help lead the University's academic mission during this important period."

As interim provost, Hexter will work closely with campus leaders, the Academic Senate, Regents, UCOP leaders, and other partners to advance the University's academic mission.

"It has been the greatest honor of my academic career to teach and serve as administrator on two of the University of California's extraordinary campuses," Hexter said. "I now look forward to working with colleagues across the entire UC system to support the University's extraordinary faculty, students and staff, to advance its academic mission and to sustain its tradition of excellence, access and public service."

Hexter has deep roots at UC. From 2011 to 2020, he served as provost and executive vice chancellor at UC Davis, where he helped guide significant growth in enrollment, faculty and infrastructure and championed public and community-engaged scholarship. He also served as acting and interim chancellor of UC Davis from April 2016 to July 2017.

"Ralph is an exceptional leader whose integrity, intellectual rigor and deep commitment to the public university have earned him the respect of colleagues across UC," said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. "His distinguished service to UC Davis demonstrated his ability to lead through change, bring people together and keep the academic mission at the center of complex decisions. The entire University will benefit from his experience and steady leadership."

From 1995 to 2005, Hexter was a professor of classics and comparative literature at UC Berkeley. During his tenure, he served as chair of the Department of Comparative Literature, dean of Arts and Humanities, and executive dean of the College of Letters and Science.

"I have had the privilege of knowing Ralph Hexter for nearly three decades, from his years as a faculty member and dean at UC Berkeley to his distinguished service at UC Davis," said Carol T. Christ, chancellor emerita and professor emerita of English at UC Berkeley. "Ralph is a scholar of great depth and an academic leader of uncommon judgment, integrity and humanity. He knows UC well, believes deeply in its public mission and will bring steadiness, wisdom and collegiality to this important role."

Hexter served as president of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, from 2005 through 2010. He previously held faculty and leadership positions at Yale University and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Hexter received his A.B. in English literature from Harvard College and a B.A. and M.A. in classics and modern languages from the University of Oxford. He earned an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in comparative literature from Yale University.

The University has launched a national search for its next permanent provost. Additional information about the search will be shared as the process moves forward.

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