The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents appointed System Executive Vice Chancellor Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., as sole finalist for president of the System’s flagship campus on Monday, April 13.
“On behalf of the Board, we are confident Dr. Ballabina is the right leader for Texas A&M University,” Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton said in a press release. “She brings unparalleled knowledge of Texas A&M, a collaborative leadership style and the experience and know-how to guide the university with vision and purpose. Equally importantly, she cares deeply about the people and communities this university serves.”
Ballabina now enters a state-mandated 21-day waiting period before the Board can take final action.
“Having worked alongside so many dedicated members of this university for the past 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand the remarkable impact Texas A&M has on students, communities and our state,” Ballabina said in a press release. “I am honored by the trust and confidence of the Board of Regents and Chancellor [Glenn] Hegar, and if given the opportunity, I look forward to building on the incredible work already underway and leading Texas A&M into its next chapter.”
In her current role, Ballabina works with the regents to “advance key strategic initiatives” across the System’s 12 universities and eight state agencies, according to a press release from the A&M System.
Before her most recent position, Ballabina served in a variety of roles at A&M at both the university and System level, including previously serving as chief of staff in the Office of the President and leading Texas A&M AgriLife.
As part of her prior roles at A&M and within the System, Ballabina coordinated disaster relief efforts through the System’s state agencies, according to the press release. She also played a role in A&M establishing the Aplin Center, a learning hub for hospitality, retail and marketing students supported by a $60 million donation from Buc-ee’s founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III that is currently under construction.
“Dr. Ballabina is a proven leader who understands this institution, the people it serves and the responsibility it carries for the State of Texas,” Hegar said in a press release. “As Texas A&M celebrates its 150th year, it is critical that we have leadership focused on results, accountability and preparing the university for continued success in the years ahead. She is prepared to lead Texas A&M forward.”
Ballabina — who will be A&M’s sixth president to take office on an interim or permanent basis since the start of the 2020-21 academic year — replaces Interim President Tommy Williams ‘78, who took over in the office after former President Mark A. Welsh III’s resignation following a scandal involving gender studies being mentioned in senior lecturer Melissa McCoul’s children’s literature course.
Williams told The Battalion soon after taking office that he was not seeking the permanent position.
“I am not the right person to lead this university on a long-term basis,” Williams told The Battalion in October. “I understand that I am very good at helping solve problems and turn things around. I’ve done this before in state government, and I think I can do it here.”
In the press release, Hegar thanked Williams — a longtime friend of his — for his time in office.
“The A&M System is grateful to Tommy Williams for his steady leadership and service to Texas A&M during this important time,” Hegar said in the press release. “He has provided stability and continuity for the university, and we appreciate his continued commitment to the institution.”
The scandal that culminated in Welsh’s resignation sparked after state Rep. Brian Harrison (R-10) posted videos on X in September of a student confronting McCoul after she mentioned gender studies in her class and culminated in the removal of English department head Emily Johansen and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Mark Zoran from their administrative positions.
Welsh received a $3.5 million payout from the System after he resigned with over three years left on his contract amidst political pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott and the Board of Regents — according to reporting from the Texas Tribune — after a phone conversation between Welsh and a student in which Welsh initially refused to fire McCoul was leaked on X by Harrison. McCoul has since pursued legal action against the university.
According to the press release, Ballabina was initially part of the presidential search committee prior to stepping away soon before applying for the position herself.
