Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh will step down Friday after criticism over his handling of a controversy involving a professor’s firing and curriculum disputes tied to gender identity.
Welsh, a retired U.S. Air Force general, announced his resignation weeks after a video surfaced showing a student challenging a professor in a children’s literature class over lessons on gender identity. The student cited executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump and questioned the legality of the material.
Under political pressure, Welsh on Sept. 9 dismissed the professor, later identified as Melissa McCoul, and demoted two administrators — the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English Department. He said the decisions followed “full consideration of the facts.”
Welsh also ordered a review of course offerings across the university to ensure that descriptions and content align.
Welsh became Texas A&M’s president in 2023, succeeding M. Katherine Banks.