Thank You: Vice Chancellor and Dean Mark Hussey
MICHAEL K. YOUNGPresident
January 10, 2017
MEMORANDUM
TO: Students, Faculty and Staff
I wish to thank Dr. Mark Hussey for his years of leadership as Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which included a period as Interim President of the University, following his announcement that he will not seek a third term and will transition to the faculty. He will remain in his current roles as we launch a national search for his successor.
Mark began working at the university as a graduate student and has continued to serve faithfully for the past 34 years. Serving as a Dean is in and of itself a tremendous challenge, which Mark has done well in managing more than 300 faculty members, 140 staff and nearly 8,000 students across 14 academic departments. Through Mark's hard work, the College has attracted best-in-class faculty and students reflected in excellence in teaching, research, extension engagement and service. Mark's dual role as Vice Chancellor for The Texas A&M University System includes leading Agriculture and Life Sciences across the A&M System, including four agencies: Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M Forest Service, and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
I would personally like to thank Mark for his leadership as Interim President prior to my arrival for his valuable counsel and smooth transition.
During his tenure as Vice Chancellor and Dean, Mark led an unprecedented new construction campaign, both in College Station and throughout the state, to create outstanding facilities for faculty and students alike. This included a new Agriculture and Life Sciences Complex on West Campus. His work was also instrumental in collaborating with the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on a state-of-the-art equine complex. Additionally, he helped secure initial funding for The Gardens at Texas A&M in what will be an outdoor classroom and beautiful addition to our campus. Building capacity and growth was also a key focus of Mark's as Interim President where he helped to shepherd resources for new lab, teaching and office space in a building to open on our Galveston campus later this year.
Mark has served as a national thought leader and advocate for land-grant universities through numerous leadership positions, both appointed and elected, with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).
Texas A&M was recently cited as having the largest number of students participating in study abroad programs, a recognition of the breadth of experience we provide students. That is a reality in no small part due to Mark's hard work in more than doubling his College's participation in global research and internships offering students truly transformative experiences while impacting the world.
Mark's greatest achievement, in my opinion, may be yet to come as people throughout the world continue to feel the effects of the multi- and interdisciplinary work he has spearheaded here at Texas A&M University across five global grand societal challenges in Agriculture and Life Sciences: Feeding Our World; Protecting Our Environment; Enriching Our Youth; Growing Our Economy; and Improving Our Health. The research, teaching, and processes he has led will help millions.
Please join me in thanking Vice Chancellor and Dean Hussey for his tremendous service and wishing him great success in the next chapter of his career.
With best regards,
Michael K. Young