((Texas Tribune– The University of Texas A &M system announced on Thursday that the President of the University of Texas A and M. Mark A. Wilch III will resign more than a week after the disturbances that were ignited by a viral video of a student facing a professor of sexual content in the children’s literature course.
The video clip, along with an audio recording of Wales, initially refused to shoot Professor Melissa McCole, who was first distributed on the Internet on September 8 after MP Brian Harrison, R-Midlothan, shared it on the X.
Wilsh McCole launched a day later, but this step did not satisfy Harrison or Lieutenant Dan Patrick, who did not believe that Wales was dealing with the situation properly.
“His contradiction on this issue and his dismissal of the student’s fears by taking the professor’s side immediately is unacceptable,” Patrick was published in X last week, adding that “this is not the first example of a lack of confidence in the leadership of President Wilsh.”
The resignation of Welsh comes amid a broader campaign by Republican leaders to tighten control of curricula, employment and speech in public universities in the state.
In January, the governor of the state, Greg Abbott, threatened to shoot Wales after the University’s Business Administration called for doctoral students and faculty members applying to a conference designed to employ black and Latin graduate students and indigenous people. After the threat, Wales said that Texas A &M would completely withdraw from the conference.
Abbott cannot shoot at university presidents, but he appoints members of the Texas University A &M University Board of Directors, who have this authority. Patrick admitted on Thursday that these recruitment decisions are based on the referees and advisor to the new Texas A & M regime, Glenn Higar.
Patrick said in his book X Post last week: “Most parents, students and graduates Agie expect to reflect Texas A & M the values of our state and our nation as well as the rich date of A&M.
On Wednesday, senior faculty members and student government of the university sent messages to Hegar and the Referees Council that supports Welsh.
One letter was signed by the executive committee of Texas A & M for distinguished professors at the university, which consists of 12 distinguished professors, the highest achievement that a faculty member can win at the university.
“All members of this committee write this message collectively to urge you to keep President Mark Wilsh in the wake of recent events,” says the letter.
The other message, which is signed by dozens of current and former students’ leaders, said that Wales carries “a fixed love and supervision of our university, and he inspires our faith and our confidence in his leadership.” Student leaders added that they were “standing united to support his leadership.”
Wales, a four -star retired general, chief of staff of the US Air Force and former Dean of the Bush College of Government and Public Service, became president in 2023. The former President M. resigned. Catherine Banks after the failed employment of Professor in the press Kathleen McLeroi, whose presentation of the job was strained after stones about her work in equality and participation.
The Welsh intervened at the beginning as a temporary president, while the university launched a national search for an alternative to banks. Four months later, Counselor John Sharp Wales recommended that he is a permanent president, giving up national research.
“The Board of Directors is confident of Wales’s public capabilities to take Texas A and M to greater horizons,” said Regent Bill Machoum, who was the Chairman of the Board of Directors, in a press statement at that time. “Everything indicates that he is the perfect person for this central moment in the history of the beloved pioneer.”
Many faculty and Welsh students, who said he gave a fixed hand that touched the need during times of uncertainty. He praised him to search for their inputs, and clearly explained decision -making and transparency about university operations.
“The Welsh General has almost positive assessments of almost uniforms from those who know him, who worked with him, who agree with him, and who disagree with him,” said medical professor Mark Cecilio at the time.
Nicholas Gotydge contributed to this story.
Texas Tribune partners with open campus on higher education coverage.
Disclosure: The University of Texas A & M and the University of Texas A & M System of Financial supporters in Texas Tribune, a non -profit news organization, was partially funded by donations from members, institutions and companies sponsors. Financial supporters do not play any role in the Tribune press. Find a full list here.
This article originally appeared in Texas Tribune in https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/18/texas-am-university-presIDENT-Mark-wesh-resigns/.
The Texas Tribune is a member, non -party newsroom, to inform and legislate Texas in the policy and policy of the state. Learn more in Texastribune.org.