President’s Brief - June/July 2024 | Office of the President (2024)

General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III
President

July 11, 2024

Members of the Aggie Family,

As recovery efforts across the state are underway from the effects of Hurricane Beryl, I hope each of you, your friends and your families are safe. I’m grateful for the role many Aggies are playing in the response and recovery efforts, and we pray for their continued safety as they help other Texans.

This summer has been anything but the quiet period we often expect from June to August. We hosted our first international soccer match with the much-anticipated Mexico vs. Brazil game and then watched George Strait make history with a record-setting concert at Kyle Field. We invited the community to campus to celebrate what would have been George H.W. Bush’s 100th birthday. And just last week, we welcomed home our new head baseball coach!

BCBSTX AND BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE NETWORK NEGOTIATIONS:

I know there have been questions regarding the ongoing negotiations between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) and Baylor Scott & White. The Texas A&M University System recently shared news that a contract extension is in place until Oct. 1 of this year. This extension means Baylor Scott & White providers, hospitals and other facilities will remain in network for BCBSTX members until Oct. 1, unless new agreements are reached ahead of that date.
Additionally, don’t forget that open enrollment for health benefits available to employees kicked off on July 10 and will remain open through July 31.

QUICK-LOOK IMPLEMENTATION:

Our leads for the main campus, Galveston and McAllen campuses are making great progress. Many of the tasks have been completed or are nearing completion. Here are a few highlights:

In Galveston, the task force to create a new College of Marine Science and Maritime Studies has completed its work and plans are in place to formally launch the new college with celebratory events in August.
The Student Experience Study was submitted for my review last month. The plan is to share the report for feedback in the fall when faculty and students return to campus. The report highlights the robust student experience that exists on campus and the need to enhance and protect that experience from several major threats identified by the committee. I look forward to sharing the report with the university community over the next few months.
The Capacity Study committee is finalizing their report, which is expected to be completed this month. This report will also be shared with the university community for feedback in the fall.
Finally, I have assembled a small committee to conduct a quick-look assessment of the Corps of Cadets and their 100-Day Assessment strategy. The committee is co-chaired by Vice President of Planning, Assessment and Strategy Joseph P. Pettibon II and Matt Segrest ’95, representing the Corps of Cadets Board of Visitors. The committee will conduct the necessary research, interviews and analysis to provide initial feedback to the Commandant and me by Sept. 30, 2024.

VALUES CAMPAIGN:

As you know, one of my priorities is to elevate Texas A&M’s national reputation. Too many people across the country (~50% of U.S. adults from a recent study) don’t know who we are or what we stand for – hard to believe, I know! But we’re going to change that. Ethan Braden, our Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, and his team are quickly advancing two concurrent efforts: 1) developing a new Texas A&M brand platform and national marketing campaign based on market research set to launch in early 2025 and 2) launching a “Values Campaign” that uses the core values as messaging pillars to serve as a proactive marketing and storytelling “bridge” for the next seven months. Recently, Ethan and his team engaged marketers and communicators universitywide in a day-long workshop to foster collaboration, build emotive storytelling skills and empower colleges, schools and divisions to use the “Values Campaign” and the university’s refined visual style for greater marketing consistency. The team is providing supporting materials and assets to help us all elevate Texas A&M, driving interest through heartfelt, signature Aggie stories. And in August, the team will launch our new university commercial during the broadcast of the Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame game, making it perfectly clear what Texas A&M stands for.

LEADERSHIP UPDATES:

President’s Cabinet –

Chief Operating Officer: Following a national search that attracted many excellent candidates, Peter Lange has been named Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President. Peter has served in the interim role since March and is a respected colleague whose service at Texas A&M totals nearly 21 years. I’m confident he’s the perfect candidate to continue the important work ahead.
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs: The search advisory committee has shared their recommendations, and we expect a decision to be made in early August.

Dean Searches –

Bush School of Government and Public Service: I’m happy to welcome renowned security expert John B. Sherman ’92 as the next Dean of theBush School of Government and Public Service, effective Aug. 1. John has served as the Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense since 2021, and we are proud to welcome him back to Aggieland! I also want to thank Dr. Frank B. Ashley III, who has served as Acting Dean since August 2023 and will be retiring after almost 40 years of service to Texas A&M and the broader educational enterprise.
School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts: I’m also pleased to share that Tim McLaughlin ’90 has been appointed Dean of the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts. He’s served as the Interim Dean since its establishment in September 2022, and prior to that, served as the founding head of the Department of Visualization.
School of Architecture: After thoughtful consideration of the search committee’s report, his own interaction with the finalists and feedback from the campus community, the Provost decided not to appoint a new dean for the School of Architecture at this time. We plan to initiate a new dean search process with a new committee in the fall after faculty and students return to campus. Interim Dean Patrick Suermann has agreed to continue serving in that role, and we appreciate his continued service.
School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Earlier this month, Dean John August announced his retirement, effective May 2025. Please join me in thanking Dr. August for his nearly 40 years of service to Texas A&M! A testament to his dedication, he has agreed to remain in his role until the new dean is named. A national search for his replacement will be launched in the fall.
Graduate and Professional School: The committee has shared their final recommendations with the Provost, and an announcement is expected soon.

In other exciting news, the 2024 Summer Olympics are fast approaching, and I’m thrilled to share that several Aggies have secured spots for the games, which start on July 26. Congratulations to our Aggie athletes who will compete in swimming, diving, and track and field, and to Coach Joni Taylor, who will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s basketball team. I look forward to cheering on these Aggies as they represent their home countries in Paris!

As the fall semester approaches, I hope each of you find time over the next few weeks for a well-deserved break with family and friends. You work hard every day and deserve some downtime before the first day of classes.

In preparing for the fall, the City of Bryan is launching a new tradition to celebrate our incredible faculty and staff. Starting Aug. 16, every third Friday will be Maroon and White Night in Downtown Bryan, where the city and local businesses will be hosting a fun evening for Texas A&M and A&M System employees and their families. If you love First Fridays in Downtown Bryan or have never been, be sure to mark your calendar for this exciting new event series and look for additional information coming soon.

Please read on for more good news happening across the university. And don’t forget, I want to hear from you. Email president@tamu.edu with your thoughts, questions and ideas, or follow me on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn for more real-time updates.

Thanks and Gig 'em!

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

In Case You Missed It

AgriLife Extension Responds To Tropical Storm Beryl

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery unit and the agency’s network of agents have employees assigned or activated in response to Tropical Storm Beryl as it moves through the state.

The new system will give faculty and students in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences access to more comprehensive, high-resolution weather data.

Established in 1974 by Texas A&M President Jack K. Williams, the press has published nearly 2,000 peer-reviewed books during its first half-century of operation.

Researchers Learning More About Eyes Thanks To Astronauts

Texas A&M researchers are investigating the impacts of space travel on eye health in hopes of counteracting the effects of fluid shifts.

Keeping The Lights On With The Help Of AI

Researchers are exploring the use of generative AI to help electrical and power engineers with daily tasks.