A&M chancellor announces acting president

Hegar released a statement on Friday afternoon saying that Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. James Hallmark is going to be acting president. This comes after General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III informed Hegar that he would step down from his role as president.

“I want to thank him for his dedicated service to our beloved university and the nation,” Hegar said in the statement. “General Welsh is a man of honor, character, and integrity. We should all thank him for his long career of leadership.”

Hegar says an interim president will be named shortly, and that the work of faculty, staff, and students continues without interruption.

Welsh’s departure follows the controversy which arose following the release of a viral video that captured a tense exchange as a Texas A&M student was kicked out of class after objecting to transgender indoctrination and voicing their religious beliefs.

Welsh learned that leaders in the College of Arts and Sciences approved teaching content which did not match the official course description. As a result, he ordered the immediate removal of the dean and department head.

Chancellor Glenn Hegar issued the following statement regarding the resignation:

“On behalf of the Texas A&M University System, I extend my deepest gratitude to General Mark Welsh for his selfless service, first to our nation, and later to Texas A&M University. That same spirit of leadership, integrity, and selfless service guided him during his tenure as president. He worked tirelessly to strengthen the university’s national reputation, expand research opportunities, and champion student success. His leadership helped elevate Texas A&M’s national profile while also keeping the university firmly grounded in its traditions.

“Today, President Welsh has submitted his resignation, and both the Board of Regents and I agree that this is the right moment for change. Together, we believe this transition is necessary to ensure Texas A&M is well positioned for the future, a future that demands bold leadership, continued innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the core values of this university to meet the challenges we face.

“In the coming days the Board of Regents will initiate a nationwide search for a permanent president and appoint an interim president to guide the university during this transition.

“Texas A&M is the greatest university in the nation, and I am confident that, together, we will continue to uphold its proud traditions while building an even stronger future for this university, for the state of Texas, and for our nation.”