The dean of Texas A&M University has stepped down following backlash over a classroom video in which students expressed opposition to lessons about gender in children’s literature, which ultimately led to a professor’s dismissal.
This announcement regarding Mark A. Wales III was made on Thursday by Glenn Heger, Prime Minister of the Texas A&M University System.
Interestingly, Heger didn’t address the controversial video in his remarks.
However, Wales’s resignation comes after the video sparked significant upheaval on campus and attracted criticism from Republican lawmakers, including the lieutenant governor of Texas.
“We believe this transition is crucial for positioning Texas A&M for the future, one that requires bold leadership, ongoing innovation, and a steadfast commitment to the university’s core values in tackling upcoming challenges,” Heger stated.
Wales’s resignation is set to take effect on Friday, as confirmed by the university.
The university system has yet to reply to inquiries from the Associated Press.
Furthermore, there has been no immediate response to a request for comment from Wales.
The timing of this decision follows Wales’s earlier directive to terminate Melissa McCall, a senior English lecturer with over ten years of teaching experience, amid political pressure, notably from Governor Greg Abbott, who had called for her termination.
Wales claimed McCall was let go after it came to light that she was teaching course material in a children’s literature class that he argued did not align with the standard curriculum expectations. He also pointed out discrepancies between the course content and its catalog description.
Defending McCall, her attorney Amanda Reichek contended that the course material aligned perfectly with both the catalog and course description and that they had never been instructed to alter anything.
In further actions, Wales asked for the removal of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English department, while Heger ordered audits of courses across all twelve schools within the system.
This series of actions has drawn criticism from faculty and writers alike.
Meanwhile, Republican Lt. Dan Patrick openly criticized Wales and his handling of the instructors.
Patrick expressed discontent, stating, “His ambiguity on the issue and the dismissal of students’ concerns by siding with the professor is simply unacceptable,” on X last week.
Heger acknowledged the efforts Wales devoted to his role since he assumed the presidency in 2023.
According to the university’s website, prior to his current position, Wales was the dean of the university’s government and public service schools and had previously served in the U.S. Air Force.
