COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M Board of Regents has confirmed Gen. Mark Welsh III as the university's new president. The decision was made final in a Tuesday morning meeting.
Prior to stepping into the interim president role on July 20 after the resignation of former President M. Katherine Banks, Welsh was the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, a role he had held since 2016. Before that, he had a successful career in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot, four-star general, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, among other accolades.
“The board is certain that General Welsh will make a Texas-sized impact as President of our world-class flagship,” Chairman Bill Mahomes said in a news release from the Texas A&M University System. “His remarkable career embodies Aggie core values. Now his mission is to raise Texas A&M’s national stature in research, education, and student experience.”
The announcement comes as little surprise to those that have kept up with the proceedings of the university administration, as it was hinted that Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp would recommend then-interim president Welsh to be selected for the permanent position. On Nov. 17, the Board of Regents named Welsh the sole finalist for the role, but had to wait 21 days to confirm him, as required by state law.
“It has been an unbelievable privilege to represent Texas A&M as Interim President over the last few months — one of the greatest honors of my life," stated Welsh following the Board meeting. "I’m grateful to the Board of Regents and Chancellor Sharp for their confidence in me, and I look forward to continuing to work with our incredible faculty, staff, and students to map out the road ahead for Texas A&M. I’m ready to get started.”
In addition to confirming Welsh as the new university president, the Board also approved the following items:
- Authorized President Welsh negotiate and set in motion a roughly 32.4 acre ground lease of land from NASA as a research facility next to the Johnson Space Center in Houston
- The second half of the $150 million needed to construct the Law & Education Building in Fort Worth, which is expected to be finished by 2027
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