President of Texas A&M University

President of Texas A&M University
since October 3, 2025 (2025-10-03)
AppointerTexas A&M University System Board of Regents
Inaugural holderThomas Sanford Gathright
FormationOctober 4, 1876 (1876-10-04)
Salary$3,000 (1876)[1]
$1,100,000 (2023)[2]
WebsiteOffice of the President

The president of Texas A&M University is the chief officer of the academic administration of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Forty-three people—forty-one men and two women—have held this office, including those who were in the position when it was named chairman of the faculty between 1883 and 1890, and those who held the position in an acting or interim capacity.

Tommy Williams is the interim president of Texas A&M University since he was appointed to the position by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on October 3, 2025, as the successor of acting president James R. Hallmark.[3] The previous president, Mark A. Welsh III, resigned in September 2025.[4] Williams is a former member of the Texas Legislature and is a member of the Texas A&M University class of 1978.[3]

Early history

Main article: History of Texas A&M University § Early years

On October 4, 1876,[5] on the recommendation of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis after he had declined the position, Thomas Sanford Gathright became the first president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (the future Texas A&M University).[6] At the inauguration of the college, Gathright stated to those assembled

To the full success of the college, I can promise the best efforts of my colleagues in the faculty, as I pledge my own. They may not be the proper men to work out success, and may be called to give place to others. I may not be suited to my place, and may retire; still this great work, in which all the people of this good state are interested, must go on and must succeed.[5]

Presidents

The list of Texas A&M University presidents includes the previous presidents, and chairmen of the faculty of the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas. It also includes those that served in an acting or interim capacity.

The following persons have served as president of Texas A&M University:[7][8]

No. Portrait President Term start Term end Ref.
1 Thomas Sanford Gathright July 15, 1876 November 21, 1879[a]
2 John Garland James November 22, 1879 April 1, 1883[b]
acting James Reid Cole April 1, 1883 June 26, 1883
3 June 26, 1883 July 19, 1883
4 Hardaway Hunt Dinwiddie July 23, 1883 December 11, 1887
5 Louis Lowry McInnis January 24, 1888 July 1, 1890
acting William Stuart Lorraine Bringhurst July 1, 1890 January 20, 1891
6 Lawrence Sullivan Ross January 20, 1891 January 3, 1898[c]
acting Roger Haddock Whitlock January 3, 1898 July 1, 1898
7 Lafayette Lumpkin Foster July 1, 1898 December 2, 1901[c]
acting Roger Haddock Whitlock December 10, 1901 July 1, 1902
8 David Franklin Houston July 1, 1902 September 1, 1905
9 Henry Hill Harrington September 8, 1905 August 7, 1908[d]
10 Robert Teague Milner September 1, 1908 October 1, 1913
acting Charles Puryear September 1, 1913 August 24, 1914
11 William Bennett Bizzell August 25, 1914 September 1, 1925
12 Thomas Otto Walton September 3, 1925 August 7, 1943
acting Frank Cleveland Bolton August 9, 1943 May 27, 1944
12 Gibb Gilchrist May 27, 1944 September 1, 1948
13 Frank Cleveland Bolton September 1, 1948 June 3, 1950
14a Marion Thomas Harrington June 3, 1950 September 1, 1953
15 David Hitchens Morgan September 1, 1953 December 21, 1956
acting David Willard Williams December 22, 1956 September 1, 1957
14b Marion Thomas Harrington September 1, 1957 July 1, 1959
16 James Earl Rudder July 1, 1959 March 23, 1970[c]
acting Alvin Roubal Luedecke March 30, 1970 November 1, 1970
17 Jack Kenny Williams November 1, 1970 July 31, 1977
18 Jarvis Ernest Miller August 1, 1977 July 10, 1980
acting Charles Harold Samson Jr. July 10, 1980 August 31, 1981
19 Frank Everson Vandiver September 1, 1981 August 31, 1988
20 William Hodges Mobley September 1, 1988 August 31, 1993
acting E. Dean Gage September 1, 1993 June 1, 1994
21 Ray M. Bowen July 1, 1994 July 31, 2002
22 Robert M. Gates August 1, 2002 December 18, 2006[e] [12]
interim Ed J. Davis December 18, 2006 January 3, 2008 [13]
23 Elsa A. Murano January 3, 2008 June 15, 2009 [14]
interim R. Bowen Loftin June 15, 2009 February 12, 2010 [15]
24 February 12, 2010 January 13, 2014 [16]
interim Mark A. Hussey January 14, 2014 April 30, 2015 [17]
25 Michael K. Young May 1, 2015 December 31, 2020 [18][19]
interim John L. Junkins January 1, 2021 May 31, 2021 [20]
26 M. Katherine Banks June 1, 2021 July 20, 2023[f] [21][22]
acting Mark A. Welsh III July 21, 2023 July 30, 2023 [21]
interim July 30, 2023 December 12, 2023 [23]
27 December 12, 2023 September 19, 2025[g] [24][25][26]
acting James R. Hallmark September 20, 2025 October 2, 2025 [27]
interim Tommy Williams October 3, 2025 Present [28]

Table notes:

  1. ^ Resigned after being asked to by the board of directors of the college following an investigation.[9]
  2. ^ Resigned to join his brother in a banking venture in Colorado.
  3. ^ a b c Died in office.
  4. ^ Resigned after a student-led strike after he forced a professor, Charles Hutson, to be quarantined after one of their grandchildren contracted whooping cough, which one of Harrington's two children died from the previous year.[10]
  5. ^ Resigned to become the U.S. Secretary of Defense.[11]
  6. ^ Resigned after the failed hiring of professor Kathleen McElroy.[21]
  7. ^ Resigned after being presented with an ultimatum to resign or be fired by the chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Robert L. Albritton, and the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, Glenn Hegar.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Wednesday, August 16, 1876". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. August 16, 1876. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Samantha, Ketterer (December 12, 2023). "Gen. Mark A. Welsh III selected as 27th Texas A&M University president". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 17, 2024. (subscription required)
  3. ^ a b Gutteridge, Nicholas (October 3, 2025). "Former state lawmaker Tommy Williams named interim president of Texas A&M". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  4. ^ Gutteridge, Nicholas; Priest, Jessica; Runnels, Ayden (September 18, 2025). "Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III to step down after a week of turmoil over viral classroom video". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Reprints from the Texas Aggie". Cushing Memorial Library and Archives. Archived from the original on September 19, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Chapman, David L. "Thomas S. Gathright: Dedicated to Success, Doomed to Failure". Cushing Memorial Library and Archives. Archived from the original on September 19, 2006. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  7. ^ "History of the Office". Texas A&M University.
  8. ^ "Howdy, Mr. President". Spirit Magazine. Texas A&M Foundation. Spring 2016.
  9. ^ "College Investigation: Testimony Taken on Friday". The Galveston Daily News. Galveston, Texas. November 22, 1879. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "History of the Commandant's House". City of College Station, Texas.
  11. ^ Burka, Paul (November 15, 2007). "A&M Regents, Faculty Clash Over Languishing Presidential Search; Post Remains Unfilled a Year After Bob Gates' Departure". Texas Monthly.
  12. ^ "Minutes of the Special Meeting" (PDF). Texas A&M University. June 6, 2002. p. 3. Dr. Robert M. Gates is hereby appointed President of Texas A&M University, effective August 1, 2002.
  13. ^ "Minutes of the Special Meeting" (PDF). Texas A&M University. December 18, 2006. p. 2. Mr. Nye moved that Dr. Ed Davis be appointed Interim President of Texas A&M University, effective December 19, 2006, upon the Chancellor's recommendation.
  14. ^ "Dr. Elsa Murano tapped to be president of nation's 6th largest university". North Texas e-News. December 26, 2007.
  15. ^ "Minutes of the Special Meeting" (PDF). Texas A&M University. June 15, 2009. p. 10. Upon the recommendation of the Chancellor, the Board of Regents hereby appoints Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, Interim President of Texas A&M University, effective June 15, 2009, at the initial salary of $375,000.
  16. ^ "Dr. R. Bowen Loftin 24th President of Texas A&M University". Texas A&M University. February 12, 2010.
  17. ^ "Minutes of the Special Meeting" (PDF). Texas A&M University. December 14, 2013. p. 5. Upon the recommendation of the Chancellor, the Board of Regents hereby appoints Dr. Mark A. Hussey Interim President of Texas A&M University, effective January 14, 2014, at the initial salary of $425,000.
  18. ^ "Michael Young". Texas A&M University. Archived from the original on June 4, 2025.
  19. ^ McGee, Kate (November 25, 2020). "A&M President says he'll retire on Dec. 31 instead of May". Brenham Banner-Press.
  20. ^ "Message From John Junkins On Being Named Interim President Of Texas A&M". Texas A&M University. November 24, 2020.
  21. ^ a b c McGee, Kate (July 21, 2023). "Texas A&M President Katherine Banks resigns amid fallout from failed hiring of journalism professor". The Texas Tribune.
  22. ^ "Dr. Kathy Banks becomes 26th president of Texas A&M University". Texas A&M University. March 31, 2021. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Wednesday confirmed Dr. M. Katherine Banks as the 26th president of Texas A&M University. Banks, who is currently vice chancellor of engineering and national laboratories and dean of the Texas A&M College of Engineering, assumes her duties June 1.
  23. ^ McGee, Kate (July 30, 2023). "Texas A&M University System regents name Mark Welsh interim president of flagship campus". The Texas Tribune.
  24. ^ a b McGee, Kate; Gutteridge, Nicholas (December 10, 2025). "How the political tide turned on Mark Welsh, the four-star general ousted as Texas A&M president". The Texas Tribune.
  25. ^ "Former Air Force Chief Of Staff Mark A. Welsh III Named 27th President Of Texas A&M". Texas A&M University. December 12, 2023.
  26. ^ "Mark Welsh Steps Down as President of Texas A&M University". Texas A&M University. September 18, 2025. Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents today announced that Mark Welsh will step down from his role as President of Texas A&M University, effective Sept. 19 at 5 p.m.
  27. ^ Cross, Karley; DeMoss, Adrienne (September 19, 2025). "Texas A&M System announces acting Texas A&M University president". KBTX-TV.
  28. ^ "Tommy Williams Named Interim President of Texas A&M University". Texas A&M University System. October 3, 2025.
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