TITLE: Congratulating President William Powers, Jr., of The University of Texas at Austin on his election as vice chair of the Association of American Universities.

SUMMARY: Congratulating President William Powers, Jr., of The University of Texas at Austin on his election as vice chair of the Association of American Universities.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, William Powers, Jr., president of The University of Texas at Austin, was elected vice chair of the Association of American Universities in October 2012; and WHEREAS, A graduate of Harvard Law School, Bill Powers is recognized as a national leader in higher education as well as one of the country's preeminent scholars in personal injury and products liability; his career with The University of Texas dates back to 1977, when he joined the faculty of the UT School of Law, and he became dean of the school in 2000; during his six years in that post, he demonstrated an outstanding ability to attract talented faculty, to diversify the student body, and to build strong relationships with alumni and lawmakers; and WHEREAS, This respected administrator has served as the president of UT since 2006, and in that capacity he has continued to promote diversity on campus and has placed a strong emphasis on strengthening the undergraduate core curriculum and on fostering support for universities and colleges throughout Texas; under his administration, UT has continued to build on its reputation as one of the world's elite places of learning; and WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous accolades, President Powers holds the Hines H. Baker and Thelma Kelley Baker Chair in Law at UT, and he is an inductee in the university's Academy of Distinguished Teachers; in addition, he was named a co-recipient of the prestigious John G. Fleming Memorial Prize for Torts Scholarship in 2012; and WHEREAS, With his election as vice chair of the Association of American Universities, President Powers joins the leadership team of an organization composed of 62 public and private research universities; founded in 1900, the AAU focuses on such issues as support for research, policy matters, and graduate and undergraduate education and acts as a liaison between its member universities and the federal government; and WHEREAS, Bill Powers is an eloquent champion of higher education, and the vision and commitment to excellence that he brings to all of his endeavors will be of immense benefit in his important new role with the AAU; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate William Powers, Jr., of The University of Texas at Austin on his election as vice chair of the Association of American Universities and extend to him sincere best wishes for a successful term; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for President Powers as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Branch Howard Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 23 was adopted by the House on February 18, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House