University of Texas considering 'pro-life evangelical' to run 'Liberty Institute'

University of Texas officials are considering Justin Dyer, a professor of political science at the University of Missouri and a self-described "pro-life evangelical" who has drawn links between court cases addressing abortion and slavery, to be the inaugural director of its conservative think tank championed by state Republican leaders. Dyer will interview for the job next week, according to an email sent to UT government graduate students and obtained by the American-Statesman. It is unclear whether any other candidates are being considered for the position. The institute, which is still in development, does not yet have an official name (though it is commonly referred to as the Liberty Institute), mission or governance structure, but it will be modeled after the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the philosophy, politics and economics department at Oxford University, according to UT’s website.

According to a January job posting, which has since been taken down, the director of the institute will be responsible for "developing the vision and strategy for the institute and facilitating research and educational efforts to support the institute’s goals." Multiple students and faculty members have expressed concern about a lack of transparency behind the development of the institute and statements by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick about it. Last month, Patrick appeared to link the institute to a proposal to ban critical race theory in Texas universities — but later backtracked from the implied connection. During a meeting with graduate students Friday, Daniel Brinks, chair of UT’s government department, suggested that donors had mentioned Dyer's name to lead the institute and discussed the potential ramifications if Dyer isn't offered tenure, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by the Statesman. UT spokesperson J.B. Bird said UT doesn't comment on job candidates, but all names considered by the search committee for the position to lead the institute were initially suggested by tenured faculty members on the committee, and the committee was unanimous in its final recommendations.