The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has unanimously approved a settlement agreement with former university President Mark A. Welsh III, who resigned from his position on September 19. The vote took place during a board meeting on Friday, September 26, 2025, but the specific terms of the agreement will remain confidential until it is officially finalized.
Welsh's departure followed a period of intense scrutiny over his handling of a campus controversy involving a professor and course content related to gender identity. He had served as president for just over two years.
Key Takeaways
- The Texas A&M System Board of Regents voted unanimously to authorize a settlement with former President Mark A. Welsh III.
- Welsh resigned on September 19, 2025, amid pressure from a controversy over a children's literature course.
- The details of the separation agreement have not been made public and will be released only after the deal is finalized.
- The incident marks the second time in just over two years that a Texas A&M president has resigned following a public controversy.
Regents Authorize Separation Agreement
During a brief public session on Friday, the Board of Regents formally authorized the negotiated separation agreement with Mark A. Welsh III. The vote was unanimous, indicating unified board support for the resolution.
Board Chair Robert L. Albritton confirmed that the regents had reviewed the agreement's terms prior to the vote. However, a system spokesperson stated that no details could be shared with the public until the settlement is fully executed.
Following the vote, which occurred minutes into the meeting, the board entered a private executive session. The session, originally scheduled to end at 2 p.m., lasted until 4 p.m. and covered personnel matters and pending litigation.
"It gives the board the opportunity, as the board, to listen to the facts as presented on those different issues," Albritton said after the meeting concluded. He described the discussions held during the private session as "very good."
Resignation Follows Campus Controversy
The events leading to Welsh's resignation began to unfold in early September. On September 8, state Rep. Brian Harrison shared a video on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The video showed a student confronting Professor Melissa McCoul about content related to gender identity in a children's literature class.
The video quickly gained traction online and drew criticism from some Republican lawmakers, who demanded that university officials take action.
Timeline of the Controversy
The situation escalated over a period of less than two weeks, culminating in the president's resignation. Key events included a viral video, political pressure, and a series of administrative actions that ultimately led to a leadership change at the university.
Initially, in a separate video, Welsh was heard telling a student that he did not intend to fire the professor involved. However, as external pressure mounted, the university's position shifted. Professor McCoul was subsequently terminated. In addition, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English department were both demoted from their leadership roles.
On September 18, Welsh submitted his letter of resignation to A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar. His resignation became effective the next day, September 19, ending a tenure that was originally contracted to last until December 2028.
A Pattern of Leadership Instability
Welsh’s departure marks the second time in recent years that a Texas A&M president has resigned under pressure. His predecessor, M. Katherine Banks, resigned in 2023 after a failed attempt to hire Dr. Kathleen McElroy, a Black journalism professor from the University of Texas at Austin.
The McElroy Settlement
In 2023, the Texas A&M System authorized a $1 million settlement with Dr. Kathleen McElroy after her hiring offer to lead the university's new journalism program was altered following criticism from conservative groups. McElroy ultimately rejected the revised offer and the system agreed to the settlement to avoid potential legal action.
The McElroy hiring controversy centered on criticism of her past work on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The public fallout from the mishandled hiring led directly to Banks's resignation.
It was in this turbulent environment that Welsh was appointed president in July 2023. A retired four-star U.S. Air Force general and former dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Welsh was seen as a stabilizing force for the university.
"Mark came in and did a phenomenal job of calming those waters," Albritton said last week, referring to the aftermath of the McElroy incident. He praised Welsh as a "leader that could calm the waters."
Looking for a New University Leader
With Welsh's departure, the Texas A&M System is once again searching for a permanent leader for its flagship university. James R. Hallmark is currently serving as the acting president.
When asked what qualities the system and its regents were seeking in a new president that Welsh could not provide, Chancellor Hegar declined to offer specifics. "That’s not something for today," he commented after Friday's meeting.
Hegar focused instead on the path forward for the institution. "I think the fact is, we’re going to work through the process of finding the best person to be the next president of this amazing institution," he stated.
The board's recent actions underscore the challenges facing leadership at major public universities, where academic decisions can quickly become subjects of intense political and public debate. The search for a new president will be closely watched as the university seeks to move past its recent leadership instability.
