Ralph Jay Hexter (born 1952) is a distinguished professor of classics and comparative literature[1] at the University of California, Davis.

in classics and modern languages at Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1977 and 1982, respectively.

[2][3] Hexter assumed the Hampshire College presidency on August 1, 2005, a post he relinquished on December 31, 2010.

[5][6] On August 20, Hampshire College announced that Marlene Gerber Fried would serve as acting president and that Hexter would be on sabbatical beginning on September 1.

[7] On November 22, 2010, it was announced that Ralph Hexter would be the next Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of California, Davis, effective January 1, 2011.