BUZZ
Key Takeaways
- President Mark Welsh resigned amid backlash over a professor's gender-identity lessons in a children's literature class.
- Welsh faced criticism after viral videos surfaced of his conversations about the situation, leading some lawmakers to call for his resignation.
- The university fired the professor involved, but she is appealing the decision.
The president of Texas A&M University resigned this week amid criticism over his handling of a student complaint about a professor’s gender-identity lessons in a children’s literature class.
The university’s Board of Regents announced Mark Welsh’s departure in a news release Thursday; his resignation is effective as of 5 p.m. Friday.
“President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar stated in the news release, adding, “At the same time, we agree that now is the right moment to make a change and to position Texas A&M for continued excellence in the years ahead.”
Over the past week, Welsh has faced criticism related to a Texas A&M student’s viral video exposing a professor’s gender ideology lessons in a children’s literature class.
The professor since has been fired, but she is appealing the decision, The College Fix reported earlier this week. Welsh also removed English Department leaders from their administrative positions, and launched a full audit of university courses.
However, some state lawmakers blamed Welsh, in part, for the situation and demanded his resignation, Inside Higher Ed reports.
“WE DID IT! TEXAS A&M PRESIDENT IS OUT!!” state Rep. Brian Harrison wrote on X after the announcement.
Last week, the Republican lawmaker posted audio recordings on X of Welsh talking about the situation with the student. When the student asked that the professor be fired, Welsh responded, “Well, that’s not happening.”
However, others stuck up for the university leader, Inside Higher Ed reports:
Welsh’s resignation comes despite the backing of notable faculty members, such as Texas A&M’s Executive Committee of the University Distinguished Professors, who wrote a letter of support for the president to the Board of Regents ahead of Thursday’s meeting.
Welsh, a four-star general who served as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, was previously dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service before he was initially tapped as interim president in July 2023 when his predecessor, Kathy Banks, resigned following a hiring scandal. Welsh was named to the job on a permanent basis in December 2023.
Previously, Welsh served in President Barack Obama’s administration. He also has voiced support for using diversity, equity, and inclusion to counter “white privilege,” The Fix reported.
The university regents plan to appoint an interim president while searching for a new leader to fill the role.
MORE: Texas professor fired over gender-identity lessons in children’s lit class files appeal
