Texas A&M President Mark Welsh Steps Down Amidst Academic Freedom Concerns
Mark Welsh, president of Texas A&M University, has stepped down abruptly, raising concerns about academic freedom and sparking faculty backlash. His resignation comes amidst growing pressure from state lawmakers over his handling of a student-professor incident involving gender identity teaching.
Welsh's departure marks the second Texas A&M president to leave due to scandal in less than two years. His resignation follows a series of events that began when he fired English professor Melissa McCoul and removed two administrators after a student objected to McCoul's statement acknowledging more than two genders. The incident prompted questions about academic freedom and sparked pushback from faculty members and the American Association of University Professors.
State lawmakers called for Welsh's termination, with some celebrating his resignation. Welsh, who previously served as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force and dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, had been under mounting pressure over his handling of the situation. Texas A&M system chancellor Glenn Hegar praised Welsh's service while agreeing that a change was necessary.
Welsh's resignation is effective from Friday at 5 p.m. Texas A&M will appoint an interim president and initiate a national search for a permanent replacement, with no immediate details on who will fill the interim role or when their term will begin.
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