Howdy!

JOHN L. JUNKINS
Interim President

January 1, 2021

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I am humbled and grateful to now be entrusted to serve as your interim president. Thirty-five years ago, I was offered an opportunity that marked a turning point in my life and my career. I had the honor of joining this great university and becoming the first endowed chair holder in Texas A&M’s College of Engineering.

When I arrived in College Station, I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome and the generous spirit that pervaded Aggieland. More importantly, my wife Elouise and I found a family. A family of talented and dedicated faculty, staff and students whose accomplishments prove daily that this great university is a powerful, transformative agent of change in the lives of so many.

Over the decades, I have had the pleasure and the privilege of wearing many hats and playing many roles at Texas A&M. I have served as a scholar, researcher, teacher and mentor, as well as a colleague and collaborator with a wide array of constituencies. I also have been blessed to lead a number of cross-university initiatives aimed at elevating our beloved institution.

The next few months will undoubtedly provide us all with challenges and opportunities alike. I can assure you that we will face the challenges and seize opportunities together. My leadership will be focused on setting goals, maintaining our momentum and setting the stage for the next president, who we hope to announce by June.

It is my fondest hope that we will see much improved conditions on COVID-19 by summer. Together with a continued pursuit of excellence on all fronts, we can turn the helm of Texas A&M over to new leadership with strategic focus on our land-grant mission while better serving our students, faculty and staff.

Thank you for your hard work, your dedication and your commitment to excellence in everything you do. I look forward to listening to you and learning from you as we work together in a new year — one that’s filled with new hope and new opportunities to make Texas A&M an even greater institution for current and future generations of Aggies.

Gig ‘em,

John L. Junkins
Interim President