Regents on Wednesday unanimously appointed Susan Ballabina as president of Texas A&M, putting her in charge of the state鈥檚 largest public university as it continues to deal with the fallout from its last president鈥檚 resignation.
Ballabina, who assumes the role on May 11, most recently served as executive vice chancellor for the Texas A&M University System, overseeing day-to-day operations across its 12 universities and eight state agencies. Prior to that, she was former Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III鈥檚 chief of staff.
Regents named Ballabina the sole finalist April 13. State law required them to wait 21 days before finalizing the hire. She initially served on the presidential search committee before recusing herself to apply for the job.
鈥淚 was a reluctant applicant. I wasn鈥檛 sure that this was something I wanted to do, but after going through the process and preparing for the various interviews, I got more and more excited,鈥� Ballabina said during the regents鈥� meeting after their vote.
The decision follows months of upheaval at the flagship campus after Welsh resigned amid political backlash over that was posted online.
The search unfolded as regents took a more assertive role in responding to controversy and shaping what can be taught, part of a broader political remaking of Texas colleges under new state laws.
Ballabina holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Tarleton State University, a master鈥檚 degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and a doctorate in public affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Ballabina has worked in the system for more than three decades, holding senior leadership roles at both the university and Texas A&M Agrilife. She helped cultivate partnerships such as the Aplin Center, a new campus hub for hospitality, retail and food-and-nutrition education, and coordinated statewide disaster recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey, according to the system.
Chancellor Glenn Hegar said she stood out among a pool of strong national candidates.
Board Chair Robert L. Albritton said, 鈥淭his unified decision sends a strong signal that Texas A&M is aligned, confident and moving forward with momentum.鈥�
鈥淎bsolutely,鈥� regent James R. 鈥淩andy鈥� Brooks added. 鈥淲e are looking forward to some peace in this organization, and we鈥檙e confident you can provide it.鈥�
Texas A&M has cycled through leaders in recent years.
In 2023, as president after the failed hiring of Kathleen McElroy, an experienced Black journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin whom Texas A&M recruited to revive its program. McElroy walked away from an offer that university officials watered down after vocal groups outside the university criticized her past work for the New York Times and support for diversity.
Welsh followed as president, working to rebuild trust with faculty by reversing some of Banks鈥� unpopular changes and promising not to micromanage. But that approach later put him at odds with regents who wanted a leader who would respond more quickly to political controversy. came in September 2025 after he initially told a student he would not fire lecturer Melissa McCoul for discussing gender identity in a children鈥檚 literature course. He ultimately fired McCoul.
Two months later, Texas A&M regents approved systemwide restrictions on classroom discussion of race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity unless the course and relevant materials are approved in advance by a university president. They also prohibited faculty from teaching material inconsistent with an approved syllabus.
Leonard Bright, president of the Texas A&M chapter of the American Association of University Professors, said Ballabina鈥檚 selection brought 鈥渟ome level of relief鈥� because faculty feared regents might choose a politician. However, he said her lack of classroom and research experience raises questions.
鈥淚s she going to stand up for faculty when there are political attacks?鈥� he asked.
B. Don Russell, a Texas A&M professor and chair of the university鈥檚 distinguished professors group, offered a more supportive view, saying Ballabina was 鈥渁mong the most open for discussions with faculty鈥� of the administrators he has worked with. He said her broad experience across the university system and in state politics will serve A&M well. He did not see her lack of traditional classroom background as a major limitation.
Since Welsh鈥檚 resignation, Tommy Williams 鈥� a former Texas lawmaker, Texas A&M alum and one-time top government relations official for the system 鈥� has served as interim president.
Texas has seen a broader political remaking of higher education since 2023.
Lawmakers banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices, programs and training; expanded regents鈥� authority over curriculum; and imposed rules limiting protesting on campus, including bans on encampments and overnight demonstrations. Supporters of these new laws say they keep universities focused on their core mission of providing degrees that lead to profitable careers. Opponents say they undercut universities鈥� mission to be spaces for open inquiry.
Ballabina takes over as Texas A&M, which enrolled 72,289 students in fall 2025, wraps up the spring semester. Final exams ended Tuesday, commencement began Wednesday and ceremonies in College Station continue through Saturday, according to the university鈥檚 academic calendar.
鈥淭his is an important moment for us,鈥� Ballabina said, after choking up. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to celebrate 150 years. We鈥檙e going to roll out a new strategic plan. And how lucky am I to get the opportunity to lead us through that and help everyone get focused on what matters 鈥� and that鈥檚 our students; that is our life-changing research; and that is our staff who help us do everything.鈥�
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