“Longtime higher-education leader James B. Milliken is the University of Texas System’s sole finalist for its next chancellor. The system’s regents on Saturday tapped Milliken, a former City University of New York chancellor, after a months-long search that began when William McRaven announced in December that he would vacate the position.

State law requires a 21-day waiting period before Milliken can take office. Larry R. Faulkner, a former University of Texas at Austin president, has been serving as interim chancellor since McRaven stepped down in May.

Milliken started as CUNY’s chancellor in 2014 and, in late 2017, announced he would depart the position at the end of the academic year. He described the challenges of battling throat cancer in a message to campus sharing the news. All major medical issues have been resolved and he has a clean bill of health, said Karen Adler, a system spokeswoman.

McRaven cited health problems in his own departure.

Unlike McRaven, a retired Navy admiral, Milliken has extensive experience in higher education. Besides CUNY, he has held top leadership positions at the University of Nebraska and the University of North Carolina system.

“The University of Texas System is clearly among the leading university systems in the country, and it has great potential to do even more to serve the needs and ambitions of Texas and the world,” Milliken said in a provided statement. “I am honored to be the finalist for the position of chancellor of this remarkable institution, and I would welcome the opportunity to play a lead role in advancing this system of outstanding universities in the 21st century.”Sara Martinez Tucker, the Texas board chair, said the system’s search committee met more than two dozen times. Multiple possible candidates, she said, were brought back several times.”