Texas A&M Regents to Name Interim President on Saturday

Editor's Note: The following story has been updated to include comments from Gov. Rick Perry's spokeswoman.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will meet Saturday to name the interim president of Texas A&M University, whose current president — R. Bowen Loftin — is departing to become chancellor of the University of Missouri.

It is possible that the next interim president will also come from within the Aggie community, which has often been the way such positions have been filled at A&M.

One name that has been floated — and according to sources has the support of Gov. Rick Perry, an Aggie — is Guy Diedrich, the current vice chancellor for strategic initiatives for the A&M System.

"While the decision is ultimately up to the chancellor and board of regents," Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said in a statement, "the governor believes Guy Diedrich is a qualified candidate with a vision for the future of Texas A&M."

While he has strong A&M ties, Diedrich does not have a traditional academic background, either in the classroom or in administration. He previously headed up government relations for the A&M System, and he has private sector experience founding and leading technology companies.

Loftin's final day at A&M will be Jan. 13, which will mark the end of more than four years at the helm of the system's flagship institution. He was named interim president in 2009 after serving as vice president and chief executive officer of the university's Galveston campus, and the word "interim" was removed from his title in 2010.

No decision will be final until the regents take a vote.