Enhancing Strategic Alignment of Our People and Resources

General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III
President

April 30, 2025

Members of the Aggie Family,

I’m pleased to announce the formation of a unified leadership model designed to more effectively and efficiently align our financial resources, human capital and strategic objectives in support of Texas A&M University’s mission. This evolution follows the continued assessment of decisions stemming from the Quick-Look Assessment and reflects our commitment to ensuring that the university remains positioned for long-term success.

Effective May 1, Joseph P. Pettibon II will serve as Senior Vice President for Strategy and Business Services. In this new role, Joe will continue to lead the university’s planning, assessment and strategy efforts, but his portfolio will expand to include the Division of Finance and Business Services and the Division of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness (HROE). This new grouping of divisions, Strategy and Business Services, is a complement to the existing grouping of operational and service-oriented divisions that comprise Operations, led by Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Peter Lange.

Joe has been a tremendous asset to Texas A&M University for over 30 years, serving in various leadership roles within academic services, leading critical strategic planning efforts for the organization, and serving as a member of various higher education associations and committees on behalf of the university. His knowledge of higher education administration – especially at Texas A&M – is unparalleled. I look forward to his leadership in this new role.

This strategic alignment builds on the success of these individual units, bringing together critical, interrelated divisions under a single leader to foster increased collaboration, enhance decision-making through shared data, and better position the university for the future. Importantly, this integration is occurring at the leadership level and does not affect the day-to-day operations of these functional units. Subject matter experts in each division will continue to lead their respective areas of expertise with no blurring of functional boundaries between human resources, finance and business services, and data/strategy.

As part of this restructuring, I’m also pleased to share that Henry Judah has been appointed Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness, following six months of outstanding service as Interim Chief Human Resources Officer. Henry’s vast experience with the university in risk management leadership positions and his ability to understand the needs of our employees positions him perfectly for this role. His experience and steady leadership will continue to guide the university’s human resources and people-focused strategies and operations.

John Crawford will also continue in his current role as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance leading the university’s budgeting and financial planning efforts. John’s leadership in this role over the past four years continues to position our university for success.

Michelle Mitchell, who currently serves as an Assistant Vice President, has stepped into the role of Chief Data Management Officer leading our data governance and analytics initiatives, and Michael O’Quinn, former special advisor to the president, has stepped into the role of Chief Strategy Officer.

This new holistic administrative structure ensures stronger alignment between our institutional goals and the resources needed to achieve them—our people, our finances and our strategic direction. It also reflects our ongoing commitment to building a more collaborative and agile administrative structure that supports the university community.

Please join me in congratulating Joe and Henry on their new roles and in supporting them as we move forward with these important changes.

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to Texas A&M University.

r/mark
General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, President