Susan Ballabina named sole finalist to lead Texas A&M University
BRYAN, Texas — Susan Ballabina was named the lone finalist for Texas A& M University president on Monday after a special meeting of the Texas A& M University System Board of Regents. The move puts Susan Ballabina, the system’s Executive Vice Chancellor, in line to lead the flagship campus after more than six months of leadership turnover. Regents said the state law requires a 21-day waiting period before the hire can be made official.
Board backs Susan Ballabina after closed-session vote
The board met Monday afternoon and approved Susan Ballabina as the sole finalist following about 30 minutes in closed session. Regent David C. Baggett was absent, and the vote was 8-0. The decision came more than six months after the departure of former President Mark Welsh III, whose resignation opened the search that has now moved into its final stage.
Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton said the regents were confident Ballabina was the right leader for Texas A& M University. He said she brings knowledge of Texas A& M, a collaborative leadership style and the experience to guide the university with vision and purpose. Chancellor Glenn Hegar also praised Susan Ballabina as a proven leader who understands the institution, the people it serves and the responsibility it carries for the State of Texas.
What Susan Ballabina brings to the job
Susan Ballabina currently serves as Executive Vice Chancellor of the Texas A& M University System, where she oversees systemwide operations and works with the Board of Regents, university presidents and agency leadership across Texas. She has held senior leadership roles at both the university and the A& M System, including Chief of Staff to the president, Senior Vice President for Academic and Strategic Collaborations, and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer for Texas A& M AgriLife.
Hegar said the moment matters because Texas A& M is celebrating its 150th year and needs leadership focused on results, accountability and continued success. He also thanked interim president Tommy Williams for providing stability and continuity during the search. Susan Ballabina said she was honored by the trust and confidence of the Board of Regents and Chancellor Hegar.
The search and the recent turmoil
The presidential search began after Welsh resigned on Sept. 19, 2025, following a viral video controversy tied to a classroom discussion about gender identity. Regents later spent more than five hours in closed session on April 7 reviewing candidates, though no action was taken at that meeting. Ballabina also sat on the search committee before recusing herself from that role when she applied for the presidency.
Texas A& M has gone through a period of unusual leadership change in recent years, with James Hallmark briefly serving as acting president before Tommy Williams was approved as interim president in October 2025. Ballabina’s background at the system and university level now places her at the center of the next step in that transition, and Susan Ballabina remains the name to watch as the 21-day waiting period runs its course.
