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The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Friday appointed former Republican state legislator Tommy Williams to lead Texas A&M University while they find someone to replace former president Mark A. Welsh III, who resigned last month.

Williams, a 1978 Texas A&M alum, spent more than a decade in the Texas Legislature, worked as the system’s top government relations official and advised Gov. Greg Abbott on fiscal matters before retiring in 2019.

“Tommy was absolutely shocked when he got the phone call,” Board Chair Robert L. Albritton told The Texas Tribune. “That’s who you’re looking for, you’re looking for somebody that isn’t desperately trying to go do it.”

In an email to students, staff and faculty, Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar said Williams will also begin a “listening tour” across campus and meet with university and student leaders.

“I’m honored to return to Texas A&M in this capacity,” Williams said in a statement. “This university means a great deal to me, and I look forward to working with students, faculty, staff and former students to support the continued excellence of this great institution.”

His appointment follows several turbulent weeks at Texas A&M that came after state Rep. Brian Harrison posted a video on X of a student confronting a professor over gender-identity content in a children’s literature course.

In another video shared by Harrison, Welsh can be heard telling the student he wouldn’t fire the professor, Melissa McCoul. But as the story went viral, Welsh fired McCoul, and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and head of the English department were demoted. Welsh resigned on Sept. 19 amid increasing political pressure over his handling of the student’s complaints and the video’s fallout.

In a statement, the president of Texas A&M’s American Association of University Professors chapter Leonard Bright said the organization hopes Williams “will actively protect academic freedom and ensure that proper procedures are followed in all academic matters.”

James R. Hallmark has been serving as Texas A&M’s acting president following Welsh’s retirement.

Albritton told reporters after the board meeting that Williams will serve as interim president for an extended period of time while the regents conduct what may be a longer-than-usual search for the next president, “to get it right.” Albritton pointed to the criticism some university leaders have received for past work that relates to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. He said he believed it would be fine for a candidate to have done work related to DEI in the past, as long as it wasn’t part of their beliefs now.

“Who are you today and how will you lead today?” Albritton said. “And what values do you have today? So to answer how long [the search] is going to take, it’s going to take as long as it takes to find that person.”

Albritton also said the search committee is being put together, and that it will include Texas A&M’s student body president, Carter Mallory, and the commandant of the Corps of Cadets, James W. Bierman Jr.

Williams’ appointment continues a state trend of university officials turning to current and former politicians to lead institutions of higher education rather than academics. The Texas Tech University System’s regents recently named Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton chancellor, the University of Texas System in August named former Republican lawmaker John Zerwas for the system’s top job, and the Texas A&M system selected Hegar, the former state comptroller, to succeed retiring chancellor John Sharp earlier this year.

The turmoil over the Texas A&M student’s video, Welsh’s retirement and the political interference that led up to it have also sparked a firestorm in Texas higher education. Multiple university systems have announced reviews or audits of their academic offerings, which critics have blasted as a threat to academic freedom.

Williams, who worked as a banker before entering politics, joined the Texas House of Representatives in 1997. He served three terms until voters sent him to the Texas Senate in 2003.

As a senator, Williams chaired the Administration Committee, the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee and the Finance Committee. He resigned in 2013 to become the vice chancellor for federal and state relations of the Texas A&M University System.

In 2017, Williams left to join Abbott’s office as a senior advisor for fiscal policy. He officially retired two years later.

“Tommy was an instrumental figure in the reforms we achieved to our school finance and property tax systems during the 86th Legislative Session, and his leadership and advocacy has ensured a brighter future for the Lone Star State,” Abbott said in a press release in 2019.

The Texas A&M system’s regents met on Sept. 26 to authorize a separation agreement with former president Welsh, who left after more than two years as Texas A&M’s president. According to Welsh’s contract, his tenure was originally set to end in 2028.

“It’s been a pleasure to work for you, Boss,” Welsh wrote in his letter of resignation to Hegar, which was obtained by the Tribune. “Best of luck leading the best university system on Earth! They’re lucky to have you.”

Disclosure: Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech University System and University of Texas System have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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