Texas A&M president Mark Welsh suddenly resigned Thursday under pressure from state lawmakers for how he handled recent incidents in which a student clashed with a professor on a course on gender identity that prompted him to fire his lecturer.
Earlier this month, Wales fired Melissa McCoul, who taught English, and a student took a student’s literature class against the professor’s statement that there are more than two genders. He said Wales also removed two managers from their duties because they “approved plans to continue teaching the course content, but the descriptions of the course were inconsistent.
The incident prompted state lawmakers to be angry, some of whom called on the Texas A&M Regent Commission to terminate Wales. But on Thursday, system officials announced he had resigned.
The case also raises serious questions about Texas A&M academic freedom and drives teachers to the impetus of McCall’s sacking as unnecessary and unjust. The American Association of University Professors also issued a statement saying that “the firing sets a dangerous new precedent for partisan intervention in Texas higher education.”
System officials noted in a statement that Wales’ resignation took effect at 5pm on Friday.
“The President of Wales is an honorary person who has led A&M in Texas with selfless dedication. We appreciate his service and contributions,” Texas A&M System Prime Minister Glenn Hegar said in a statement Thursday. “At the same time, we agree that now is the right time to change and position Texas A&M to continue to excellence in the coming years.”
Others have won the victory circle, including Republican Congressman Brian Harrison and Texas A&M alumni who accused the “left” of funding colleges [diversity, equity and inclusion] and transgender indoctrination. ”
Last week, Harrison posted a video saying that students had fought against McCoul, who claimed that teaching material related to gender identity and transgender people was illegal and violated one of President Trump’s executive orders, which is not the law. Harrison called on the board to fire Wales and other senior officials.
“We did it! Texas A&M President is gone!!” Harrison wrote on social media Thursday: “As the first elected official to call on him to be fired, the news is welcome despite the overdue.”
Several other Republican lawmakers also publicly expressed their support for the firing of Wales.
Despite the support of prominent faculty, such as the University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M, Wales is still resigning, who wrote a letter of support to the board before Thursday’s meeting.
Wales is a four-star general who served as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force and was previously the dean of the Bush Administration and Public Services Academy until July 2023, his predecessor, Kathy Banks, resigned after the hiring scandal. Wales was permanently appointed to the job in December 2023.
The retreat from Wales means the last two Texas A&M presidents were cut down by scandals and their work lasted for more than two years.
Texas A&M did not name the interim immediately after announcing Wales’ resignation, but system officials noted in a statement that it would appoint someone “in the coming days” and “start the country to find a permanent president” after Wales’ resignation.
