#higher-education-leadership

#higher-education-leadership

When Texas A&M University president Mark Welsh resigned amid an academic freedom controversy last week, he became the institution's second leader to step down due to scandal in two years. Unlike his predecessor, Kathy Banks, who retired in 2023 after she was caught lying about a hiring scandal, Welsh remained popular on campus; faculty sent theBoard of Regents letters of support last week following a controversy that prompted him to fire an instructor,and students rallied on his behalf. But he seemed to lose the support of the deep-red Texas Legislature: Several Republican lawmakers called for his dismissal after a discussion over gender identity between a student and a professor in a children's literature class was captured on video and quickly went viral.

Being dean was rewarding, he said. The wins were visible, the feedback loop was short and he was well supported.

he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from UC Berkeley and a PhD in higher education leadership and policy from Stanford University. "As his family, we take comfort in knowing that Joe's life was guided by a desire to open doors of opportunity for others," his family said in a statement. "He held fast to the belief that education could strengthen families and transform communities. His influence continues in the many people he encouraged, supported, and inspired along the way."