Texas A&M President Steps Down Amid Dispute Over Classroom Video on Gender Identity

Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III is resigning after a classroom video showing a student objecting to a children’s literature lesson on gender identity set off a political firestorm that culminated in the firing of a longtime professor and scrutiny from state leaders.

Chancellor Glenn Hegar announced on Sept. 19 that Welsh would step down effective Friday at 5 p.m., calling it “the right moment for change” at one of the nation’s largest universities. He did not address the video or the controversy it stirred.

“President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication,” Hegar said in a statement. “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.”

Board of Regents Chairman Robert Albritton praised Welsh’s service, noting his career as a U.S. Air Force general and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but said the university faced challenges that demanded new leadership.

In his resignation letter, Welsh thanked faculty, staff, and students, calling his two years at the helm “a remarkable gift.” He said serving as president “for even a minute is an incredible privilege” and praised students for showing him “that respecting others is the front door to a respected life.”

“You have always inspired me … and I’m gonna miss you,” Welsh wrote, signing off with the school’s trademark slogan: “Thank YOU and Gig ’em.”

The departure follows weeks of upheaval after Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison, an A&M alumnus, posted a series of undercover recordings earlier this month. In one clip, a student challenged English department senior lecturer Melissa McCoul during a children’s literature class that included discussion of gender identity. The student said the lesson violated her religious beliefs and questioned the legality of the instructional content, citing a Trump administration directive recognizing only two sexes. McCoul told the student she was free to leave the classroom.

Harrison accused the university of promoting “DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] and LGBTQ indoctrination” and urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other officials to intervene. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized Welsh’s handling of the case, saying his response to the student’s concerns had been “unacceptable.”

Under mounting pressure, Welsh directed the campus provost to fire McCoul, who had taught at A&M for more than a decade. He said her course content “did not align with any reasonable expectation of standard curriculum for the course” and failed to match catalog descriptions. He also removed the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English Department from their posts.

“This isn’t about academic freedom; it’s about academic responsibility,” Welsh said in a Sept. 9 statement.

McCoul has appealed her dismissal. Her attorney, Amanda Reichek, told The Associated Press that McCoul was “fired in derogation of her constitutional rights and the academic freedom that was once the hallmark of higher education in Texas.” Some faculty groups and PEN America called the actions a blow to academic freedom.

“This is a dangerous turning point, with higher education being weaponized for political ends rather than being a forum for open and respectful exchange,” Jonathan Friedman, a director at PEN America, said in a statement.

Hegar praised Welsh for firing McCoul, saying the decision “shows insubordination and indoctrination have no place in on our campus or in our classrooms.” He also ordered audits of courses across all 12 schools in the A&M system.

The Board of Regents said it will name an interim president in the coming days and launch a national search for Welsh’s successor.

Texas A&M, located in College Station about 95 miles northwest of Houston, enrolls more than 77,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the country.