A Message from Interim President Mark A. Welsh III
General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh IIIInterim President
July 31, 2023
Members of the Aggie Family,
It’s humbling to be named interim president of Texas A&M University. Thank you to the Board of Regents and Chancellor Sharp for their confidence in me stepping into this position at such an important time.
Being the interim president of this remarkable institution is a privilege, and I pledge to every Aggie that I will work tirelessly to represent this great university in a way that reflects your pride in it. I’m grateful for the opportunity.
As the acting president over the past week, I’ve been able to visit with Student Body President Hudson Kraus ’24, University Distinguished Professors Executive Committee Chair B. Don Russell, Faculty Senate Speaker Tracy Hammond and University Staff Council Chair Sarah Franke, as well as many other leaders across the campus. These meetings remind me how much passion our students, faculty and staff have for this university. It’s not just the place, but what it stands for – things like pride, patriotism, service, family, loyalty and respect. These things matter to each of us, and it has been apparent in my early interactions that we still embrace them here at Texas A&M.
As I’ve mentioned, my initial priority is to ensure the great things already happening on our campuses continue without interruption. Listening to your thoughts and ideas will be key – and I’m eager to continue these important discussions in the coming weeks. On Aug. 7, I will speak with the executive committee of the Faculty Senate, followed by a full Faculty Senate meeting on Aug. 14. We are also working to schedule meetings with the University Distinguished Professors, the Council of Principal Investigators, the University Staff Council and others. Additionally, I have plans to meet our new and returning students during Howdy Week and other welcome events.
As we prepare for the start of another academic year, I would like to invite you to join me for a virtual all-faculty and staff meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. I will provide brief comments on my initial observations and answer questions submitted on behalf of the Faculty Senate and University Staff Council. I recognize that not everyone will be back on our campuses then, as many of you are off for the summer months or are enjoying well-deserved time away with loved ones. Please don’t change your plans to join this meeting; we will make a recording available shortly after the meeting and you can catch up at your convenience.
We have a lot of work ahead of us and some challenges to overcome. But in those challenges, there is tremendous opportunity to come together as only Aggies can. I hope you’ll join me.
Gig ’em!
r/mark
General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, Interim President