New Texas A&M president confirmed as university seeks stability Regents have appointed Susan Ballabina as the new president of Texas A&M The Independent UK · May 7
New Texas A&M president confirmed as university seeks stability Susan Ballabina takes charge of the state’s largest public university after previous leaders faced political backlash. The Texas Tribune · Apr 13
Texas A&M professor files lawsuit after firing over gender identity lesson A Texas A&M University professor who was fired last year after a controversy over a classroom video that showed a student objecting to a children’s literature lesson about gender identity has sued the school The Independent UK · Feb 5
Texas A&M educator fired after secret recording of her gender lesson leaked sues university Footage of McCoul’s lesson on gender identity was shared online, drawing negative response from Republicans in the state The Independent UK · Feb 4
Fired after gender identity lesson, professor sues Texas A&M, arguing her free speech rights were violated Melissa McCoul, arguing she was fired to appease political critics, is seeking to get her job back and other restitution. The Texas Tribune · Feb 4
Texas A&M University to end women's studies due to new policy on race and gender topics Texas A&M University is ending its women’s and gender studies program and changing the syllabuses of hundreds of courses The Independent UK · Jan 31
There’s an intensifying kind of threat to academic freedom – watchful students serving as informants Texas AM University told philosophy professor Martin Peterson in early January 2026 that he could not teach some of Greek philosopher Plato’s writings that touch on “race and gender ideology.” The Conversation · Jan 14
Texas A&M System declines to reinstate fired lecturer despite faculty panel’s findings A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.” The Texas Tribune · Dec 24, 2025
Faculty panel: Texas A&M wrongly fired professor after gender lesson Texas A&M did not have good cause to fire a professor after a video of a gender lesson created a political storm, and the school failed to follow due process, a faculty appeal committee found. The Texas Tribune · Nov 22, 2025
Texas A&M committee rules professor's firing over gender identity lesson was unjustified A Texas A&M committee agreed the university was wrong to fire a professor earlier this year after a controversy over a classroom video that showed a student objecting to a children’s literature lesson about gender identity The Independent UK · Nov 22, 2025
Texas A&M University professors now need approval for some race and gender topics Texas A&M University System regents on Thursday adopted a new policy requiring professors to first get approval to discuss some race and gender topics The Independent UK · Nov 13, 2025
Texas A&M system approves policy to restrict faculty from advocating “race and gender ideology” Faculty are also prohibited from teaching material inconsistent with approved syllabi. The changes come in response to a recent controversy over gender identity classroom discussions. The Texas Tribune · Nov 13, 2025
Texas A&M faculty panel report says professor’s firing violated her academic freedom University officials dispute the faculty council’s conclusion. Melissa McCoul lost her job after a video of a classroom debate went viral. The Texas Tribune · Nov 11, 2025
Texas A&M System to vote on requiring prior approval for lessons that advocate “race and gender ideology” The proposal appears to mark the first time a Texas university system offers definitions of what kind of instruction related to race and gender should not be permitted. The Texas Tribune · Nov 10, 2025
The Texas Tribune · Oct 7, 2025 Texas Tech system’s vague guidelines on gender identity spur more questions than answers Faculty have spent weeks seeking clarity on new restrictions, which have often been issued by word of mouth. A written Q&A was rescinded.
The Texas Tribune · Oct 3, 2025 Former state lawmaker Tommy Williams named interim president of Texas A&M Williams replaces former president Mark A. Welsh III, who resigned amid the fallout over a viral video showing an A&M student confronting a professor over a gender-identity discussion.
The Conversation · Sep 30, 2025 McCarthyism’s shadow looms over controversial firing of Texas professor who taught about gender identity Texas AM University announced the resignation of its president, Mark A. Welsh III, on Sept. 18, 2025, following a controversial decision earlier in the month to fire a professor over a classroom exchange with a student about gender identity.
The Texas Tribune · Sep 26, 2025 Texas A&M System regents authorize settlement with former president Details of the agreement with Mark A. Welsh III, who resigned as leader of the flagship university on Sept. 19, will not be revealed until it is finalized.
International Business Times UK · Sep 19, 2025 'The Right Moment for Change': Texas A&M President Quits a Week After Firing Professor Over Gender Lesson Texas A&M President Mark Welsh III steps down amidst a fierce gender identity row. A professor was fired after a student's protest in class sparked political outrage.
The Texas Tribune · Sep 19, 2025 How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M Officials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated.
The Independent UK · Sep 19, 2025 Texas A&M University president resigns after pressure over literature class that recognized more than two genders Texas A&M University’s president is stepping down after facing criticism over a classroom video that showed a student objecting to a children’s literature lesson about gender, which led to the professor’s firing
International Business Times UK · Sep 19, 2025 Who Is Mark A. Welsh III: Embattled Texas A&M University President Resigning After 'DEI and LGBTQ indoctrination' Video Goes Viral Texas A&M president Mark A. Welsh III resigns following controversy over a gender identity lesson that sparked widespread political and public backlash.
The Texas Tribune · Sep 18, 2025 Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III to step down after a week of turmoil over viral classroom video Calls for Welsh’s ousting intensified over his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class.
The Texas Tribune · Sep 17, 2025 Student who mocked Charlie Kirk’s death “no longer” at Texas State University as clampdowns continue The university's announcement came hours after Gov. Greg Abbott called for the student's expulsion.
The Texas Tribune · Sep 15, 2025 Faculty, advocacy groups fear Texas A&M firing threatens academic freedom The firing happened over two years after Texas A&M stressed its support for academic freedom and amid a changing higher education landscape.