Texas A&M President Welsh resigns after gender lesson backlash

Julie Fine and Janet Lorin, Bloomberg News on Sep 18, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh is stepping down, ending the tenure of the retired Air Force general two years after taking the role.

Welsh’s departure will take effect at 5 p.m. Thursday, according to a statement from Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

The board plans to name an interim leader in the coming days and begin a national search for his permanent successor.

Welsh has been taking heat in recent days by Republican lawmakers after a video went viral showing a student accusing a professor of teaching “gender ideology.” during a class. The video, posted on X by Republican state lawmaker Brian Harrison, drew national attention and prompted involvement by the US Justice Department.

Welsh initially removed a dean and department head saying the course content strayed from its approved catalog description. The professor was fired after Governor Greg Abbott urged for the school to do so.

“President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication,” said Hegar. “We are grateful for his service and contributions. 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.”

Welsh is just the latest university president to quit abruptly in the past few years as Republican lawmakers target schools over how they teach, enforce discipline and recruit students and staff.