Texas A&M University System Regents tapped Susan Ballabina, a long-time system administrator, as the sole finalist for the presidency of the flagship College Station campus. This selection follows a year of intense internal conflict that saw the previous president resign last summer. Ballabina currently serves as executive vice chancellor within the sprawling 12-university system.

Her appointment arrives seven months after Mark Welsh stepped down, a resignation catalyzed by the removal of an instructor who showed a gender unicorn during a literature class. Republican politicians and the governor sharply criticized the instructor, accusing the university of promoting “gender ideology.” This situation mirrors broader political battles in Texas over curriculum content.

State legislation has recently empowered governing boards, such as the one selecting Ballabina, to exert greater control over academic leadership and curriculum restrictions, moving power away from faculty governance structures. Faculty leaders expressed relief that Ballabina is “not a politician,” though they had favored an academic appointment.

Regents cited Ballabina's deep institutional knowledge and collaborative approach as key qualifications for guiding the 81,000-student institution. The Board can officially confirm the appointment after a mandatory 21-day waiting period concludes.