Dan Sharphorn ’69, a longtime attorney with extensive experience in higher education leadership and law, has been named vice chancellor and general counsel to The University of Texas System, effective June 16.
Sharphorn joined the UT System in 2007 as associate vice chancellor and deputy general counsel and has been serving as ad interim vice chancellor and general counsel for the past year.
Sharphorn played a central role in the development and implementation of expanded conflict of interest and conflict of commitment policies and also led the review of policies and procedures to help address and prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault on UT System campuses. He also has provided critical legal guidance on the separation of UT Brownsville and Texas Southmost College as well as the establishment of UT Rio Grande Valley and its medical school.
Prior to joining the UT System, Sharphorn served in the vice president and general counsel’s office at the University of Michigan for 25 years, with his last appointment as associate vice president and deputy general counsel. He began his career in higher education as an instructor with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He received his bachelor’s degree from West Point, and he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and at the Pentagon. He also holds a law degree and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan.