The new dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin has previously defended pro-Hamas protestors and opposed tenure reforms enacted by state lawmakers.
Dan Brinks, who previously served as a professor in the college, was promoted to interim dean in late August.
In 2024, Brinks signed an open letter to former campus President Jay Hartzell complaining about an alleged “aggressive and disruptive police presence that your office invited onto our campus” following a series of pro-Hamas protests on campus that April.
The letter claimed that the events in question were “a peaceful protest and teach-in on the Gaza war.” As previously reported, participants spat on police, threw water bottles at them, and attempted to obstruct a bus transporting law enforcement officers.
The letter also claimed that “the University’s functioning was affected even before the protest began, by the presence of Texas State Troopers in full riot gear — on foot, horses, and motor bikes — along with Austin, UT and System Police,” even though the protests were geographically contained and business as usual continued on the overwhelming majority of the campus.
In addition, Brinks argued in 2023 that proposed reforms to tenure would harm Texas’ economy.
Brinks’ promotion comes as the university appears poised to continue several grievance studies programs.
The UT-Austin student newspaper, The Daily Texan, reported last week that, while the university was likely to eliminate a handful of grievance studies minors, it was also likely to retain American studies (a catch-all term that analyzes how race, gender, class, ethnicity, and religion shape American life), African and African Diaspora studies, and Mexican American and Latina/o studies majors.
This stands in contrast with Texas A&M and Texas Tech, which are phasing out such content.
UT-Austin did not reply to a request for comment before publication.
UT-Austin is a component of the University of Texas System. The UT System is overseen by a Board of Regents appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Kevin Eltife of Tyler is the current board chair.
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