one MEEN Ag said:

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Also, there are deeper problems than just 'A&M is a clown show'.


And that also means making hard stances about women in higher education, women in the workforce, women as students,

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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BonfireNerd04 said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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What are we on, 10 presidents in 20 years or something like that? I hope she makes it more than a year.

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10th one in this millennium (after Bowen, Gates, Davis*, Murano, Loftin, Hussey*, Young, Junkins*, Banks, and Welch).

* = Interim presidents not promoted to President

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Add Williams* then her, and that makes 12. That just screams "stability." I love A&M, but 12 presidents in that span of time is making us look like a clown show.

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I don't disagree there has been entirely too much turnover at the top, really going back to 2000. Though Gates' departure to serve as SecDef, and Dr. Loftin's departure would be the noteable exceptions.

What do all of those hires post-Gates do have in common not including this one?

• Chancellor John Sharp

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one MEEN Ag said:

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Also, there are deeper problems than just 'A&M is a clown show'.

There is a backlash from the state about how left coded state institutions have become, especially with DEI, and specifically towards A&M because A&M is supposed to be conservative. A&M has historically tried to cozy up to liberal, secular values over the past 40 years to improve its own image.

At the root of this rejection of DEI has to be an embrace of some deeper values. A value system that doesn't wantonly embrace 'equality' and 'unity' for their own sake. And invoking a deeper value system means requires uprooting all of secularism and by collateral damage, Protestantism. And making explicit claims about the Christian God as authority. Something that was implicit in 99.9% of the student body during the hey-day of A&M's cultural foundations.

And that also means making hard stances about women in higher education, women in the workforce, women as students, abortion, premarital sex, coed housing, the role of man as the head, and universal sufferage.

And A&M doesn't want to do any of that. They want to just be conservative (TM), keep the money rolling in, keep growing the brand. Don't throw away 50 years of 'progress'. Especially since the most celebrated man on campus (Rudder) is both this extremely manly warrior class (Ranger) who also is a progressive who allowed women in.

This is mostly why the 'right' does really bad at counter-reforms. Because most of 'conservatives' nowadays will reject third wave feminism but full throated support first wave feminism.

A&M will continue to struggle with its own identity for the foreseeable future. Basically forever.

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Quote:

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It's the state's flagship STEM school.

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deddog said:

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Well now that we have a seemingly conservative President, you can expect all the liberal students and faculty to go absolutely ape**** over everything

You know its coming.

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deddog said:

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Well now that we have a seemingly conservative President, you can expect all the liberal students and faculty to go absolutely ape**** over everything

You know its coming.

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Iraq2xVeteran said:

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I hope Susan Ballabrina removes woke and DEI course from the university and continues to help it attract world-class talent for its faculty and students.

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Buck Turgidson said:

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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We had a closeted liberal picking presidents who were a poor fit for A&M which led to constant turnover. Unfortunately, Sharp was politically protected so he got to stick around compounding his mistakes as long as he pleased.

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Noble07 said:

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Buck Turgidson said:

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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We had a closeted liberal picking presidents who were a poor fit for A&M which led to constant turnover. Unfortunately, Sharp was politically protected so he got to stick around compounding his mistakes as long as he pleased.

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Michael Young was arguably the most liberal one, right? He has the longest tenure since Gates at 5 years.

Banks and Welsh got fired for dumb mistakes that they made, not necessarily for being liberal. The previous chancellor didn't like Murano. Why was Loftin pushed out?

I hope this President can stay for at least 4-5 years, otherwise it will be harder and harder to find someone that would actually want the job.

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bobbranco said:

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TA-OP said:

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25Lighters said:

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… the benefits of conservatism at work in education.

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Thats hilarious. If not for conservatives, we wouldn't have massive over-testing (plus the resulting budget explosion for it) and "No Child Left Behind."

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Yes, educators are failing students when the basics, reading, writing and arithmetic are ignored.

As we all know the brainwashing of educators in higher education continues.

https://www.sociologyjournal.net/archives/2025/vol7issue1/PartE/7-1-77-195.pdf

Quote:

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Implications I- For Policy Makers

Attempts to legislate ideology out of education-such as banning "critical" or "radical" theories-threaten academic freedom and violate international norms of higher education autonomy.

Funding frameworks should encourage pluralistic intellectual exploration, not ideological conformity. Independent review boards may help ensure that academic programs are evaluated on scholarly merit, not political expediency.


II- For Scholars and Educators

Faculty must remain vigilant against self-censorship and defend the academic legitimacy of Marxist, postcolonial, and critical theoretical frameworks.

There is room to innovate pedagogically, integrating Marxist and other critical traditions into interdisciplinary conversations about climate justice, technology ethics, and democratic renewal.

Future research could explore the longitudinal effects of ideological exposure in universities on students' civic behaviors, political beliefs, and career trajectories.


III- For University Administrators

There is an urgent need for clear, transparent policies regarding protests, academic expression, and political speech on campus. Vague rules invite selective enforcement and reputational damage.

Administrators should invest in dialogue-based conflict resolution mechanisms that bring together students, faculty, and constructively. leadership to manage dissent

Ideological surveillance or punitive responses risk alienating student populations and damaging the institution's public image as a space for free thought.

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infinity ag said:

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deddog said:

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Well now that we have a seemingly conservative President, you can expect all the liberal students and faculty to go absolutely ape**** over everything

You know its coming.

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It's also a woman. And women are more susceptible to a "let's all work together and be happy" way or working... let's see.

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Hagen95 said:

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Let's get to some important questions. What is her opinion of the smoke draw?

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milner79 said:

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BusterAg said:

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Texas A&M University said:

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milner79 said:

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Windy City Ag said:

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Quote:

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Bring back legacy admissions

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This is not happening.

The vast majority of Old Ags would not make the cut these days and the legislature loves the Top 7% rule. There is almost no one who wants to dumb down admissions for legacies.

It is what it is.

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Legacy admission, IMO, does not have to mean automatic admission. But it could be a weighted factor that is (seriously) considered in that mysterious mix Admissions calls "holistic review."

All things being academically equal, I would a lot rather award admission to an Aggie legacy than to another candidate. I would a lot rather admit an academically qualified student who has been coming to campus on weekends all their young life, has an appreciation for traditions, and sees themselves as part of a continuation of an Aggie family legacy.

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F that.

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Ironic post is ironic.

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And so articulately worded and argued ...

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Windy City Ag said:

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Quote:

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It's the state's flagship STEM school.

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Unfortunately it is not even this.

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ts5641 said:

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Viper16 said:

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I would like to know her positions on DEI and wokeism in the university system.

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This is the most important consideration.

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Viper16 said:

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ts5641 said:

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Viper16 said:

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I would like to know her positions on DEI and wokeism in the university system.

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This is the most important consideration.

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No doubt about it.

She could be the greatest qualified person on the planet!

Yet, we still don't know her viewpoints on those two most critical issues!

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techno-ag said:

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25Lighters said:

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The Rudder Association approves so it looks like a great hire!

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Good. Hopefully not a lib.

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Rex Racer said:

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Texas Monthly criticized her in the past, so I like her.

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Rex Racer said:

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Viper16 said:

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ts5641 said:

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Viper16 said:

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I would like to know her positions on DEI and wokeism in the university system.

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This is the most important consideration.

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No doubt about it.

She could be the greatest qualified person on the planet!

Yet, we still don't know her viewpoints on those two most critical issues!

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We know that she worked hard to implement the Governor's executive orders surrounding getting rid of DEI. So there's that.

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Today, the Board of Regents voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Susan Ballabina as the 28th president of Texas A&M University. Dr. Ballabina will assume her new role on May 11. pic.twitter.com/pBjI77WbVs

— Rusty Surette (@RustySuretteTV) May 6, 2026

Ervin Burrell said:

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Will be labeled a woke Marxist by this entire board within six months.

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RealMcCoy09 said:

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If she gets rid of the beveled logo, then I will fully support this hire. Time will tell.

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FlyRod said:

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Because the BOR is absolutely terrified of a state rep named Brian Harrison. If he decided he doesn't like this new president, she will be gone within 48 hours.

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