Office of the President

Speeches & Reports

Message to the Aggie Family: Moving Forward

January 25, 2008

I am pleased to announce that today the Texas A&M System Board of Regents formally approved my plan to enhance the executive leadership team for Texas A&M University. This effort includes adding new senior-level positions and expanding the roles and responsibilities of some current positions, effective Feb. 1. It is my privilege to share with you the names and responsibilities of the members of our new leadership team. This is a group of dedicated individuals who will play integral roles in helping Texas A&M University continue to be recognized as one of the finest public universities in America.

After much consideration, I am confident that I have assembled a dynamic, dedicated, highly experienced and results-oriented leadership team, and I have moved quickly because time is of the essence. The urgency in moving quickly is driven in part by the need to regain and maintain momentum in meeting the key goals of Vision 2020, our road map for becoming a consensus top 10 public institution of higher learning by the year 2020.

Please be assured that appointing the very best people to serve as my top advisers was not a decision made in haste. Instead, each position was carefully considered, drawing on assessments made during my previous three years as vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M and my overall 12-year association with the university, dating back to my time as a member of the faculty. Several members of this new team were instrumental in the successful transformation made within our agriculture program that experienced a notable increase in undergraduate enrollment over the past two years, following a sharp decline prior to my assuming the deanship, as well as overall increases in state and federal funding and development activities.

As stated previously, the new leadership team will be headed by two executive vice presidents. The executive vice president for academics and provost position will be responsible for all academic matters, including budgetary oversight for all activities affecting teaching and research and related activities. As I trust you are aware, one of my highest priorities is elevating academics. Toward that end, a nationwide search will be conducted to select the best person to lead this effort for Texas A&M. I am pleased that Dr. Jerry R. Strawser, currently interim executive vice president and provost, has agreed to continue to serve in this position while the national search is being conducted.

While on the subject of academics, I do not anticipate any changes at the deanship level, with one immediate exception — hiring my successor as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dr. Mark A. Hussey, director of A&M System-member Texas AgriLife Research, is currently serving as interim dean while a nationwide search is underway. You may recall that Dean Richard Adams of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences had announced last year his intention to step down in 2009, and a search for Adams' replacement will begin in the near future. Also, a search for the dean of the College of Architecture began last fall and is progressing on schedule.

Dr. H. Russell Cross, who served as my deputy vice chancellor and associate dean of agriculture and life sciences, will be the executive vice president for operations. In his new role, Dr. Cross will have management oversight of areas such as facilities and operations, governmental affairs, marketing and communications, and development. I have worked closely with Dr. Cross for many years — most recently during the past three years in my position as a vice chancellor and dean. He is a visionary leader with strong administrative, financial management and strategic communications skills at large, complex organizations, and I can think of no other individual more qualified for such an important role.

Several other seasoned professionals with a wealth of experience and varied backgrounds will join our leadership team at the vice-presidential level. All are new to their roles, but have extensive university and A&M System experience.

The position of vice president for governmental affairs will be filled by Courtney K. Trolinger, who presently serves as assistant vice chancellor for external relations for the agriculture program. In her new position, Trolinger will provide information to and interact generally with legislative and other state officials about critical issues facing the university. Michael G. O'Quinn, currently vice president for governmental affairs, will now serve as vice president for institutional and federal affairs. Among other duties, he will help draft policy on higher education issues of importance to Texas A&M and will represent the university with key national higher education associations.

Chad E. Wootton, now senior director of development for the Texas A&M Foundation, has been named vice president for development and strategic outreach. Wootton will be responsible for promoting the university's response to development-related issues and opportunities in conjunction with support entities such as the Texas A&M Foundation, Association of Former Students, 12th Man Foundation, Texas A&M Research Foundation, and any other Texas A&M affiliates. Dr. Robert L. Walker, who currently holds that position, will focus his efforts as Texas A&M's senior executive for development, and will be an integral and key member of our strategic development team.

Jason D. Cook has been promoted to vice president for marketing and communications. In his new role, he will be responsible for enhancing Texas A&M's image, creating greater awareness of the university's contribution to research and discovery, and effectively communicating the university's vital role in improving the lives of the people in the state, nation and world. He presently serves in a similar executive-level position for the agriculture program. Steven B. Moore, currently Texas A&M's chief marketing officer and vice president for communications, will continue to serve as chief marketing officer and will be a key member of the integrated marketing and communications effort led by Cook.

K. Sue Redman, previously senior vice president for finance and chief financial officer, will serve the university in a new capacity as my special assistant. Terry A. Pankratz, the university's associate vice president for finance and controller, will serve as interim senior vice president for finance and chief financial officer while a search will begin immediately to fill the position on a permanent basis.

Rounding out the university's presidential-level leadership team will be Dr. Dean Bresciani, vice president for student affairs; Charles A. Sippial, Sr., vice president for facilities; Dr. Tito Guerrero, III, vice president for diversity and associate provost; Dr. Pierce E. Cantrell, vice president and associate provost for information technology, and Dr. James A. Calvin, interim vice president for research. A previously announced search is under way to fill the position of vice president for research on a permanent basis.

Also, the overall leadership team includes Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, vice president and chief executive officer for Texas A&M University at Galveston, Dr. Mark Weichold, dean and chief executive officer for Texas A&M University at Qatar, and R. C. Slocum, special advisor to the president.

Several of the new appointees have previously worked closely together and with me when I served as vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences. They are seasoned professionals from diverse backgrounds who have proven records of successfully working in a collaborative team environment and alongside me in recent months and years.

I will post an organizational chart on the president's website reflecting these changes as soon as possible.

Please join me in fully supporting this fine group of individuals who have agreed to serve on our leadership team. These are individuals who have unquestionably distinguished themselves as innovative leaders, outstanding administrators and exceptional team builders.

I look forward to leading — and being a part of — what can and will be accomplished as a team in the weeks, months and years ahead. Again, it is a distinct honor to serve as president of this great institution. Thank you for your continued dedication and efforts on behalf of the entire Texas A&M family.

Gig 'Em!

Dr. Elsa A. Murano
President
Texas A&M University