Texas A&M president to resign Friday over backlash regarding viral gender ideology video

Texas A&M President Mark Welsh will resign his post on Friday, the university's board announced Thursday, after a week of heavy criticism regarding the school's response to a video that went viral last week.

The video was filmed by a student who was confronting a professor over gender content in a children’s literature course. The course acknowledged more than two genders, which prompted backlash from the student who cited the Trump administration's push to recognize just two genders. 

The school faced backlash after Welsh declined to immediately fire the professor in question, Melissa McCoul. However, he later fired McCoul following a push from Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison. 

Texas A&M Chancellor Glenn Hegar said the board has received Welsh's resignation, but his last day will be on Friday. An interim president has not yet been announced.

“President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication,” Hegar said in a statement. “At the same time, we agree that now is the right moment to make a change and to position Texas A&M for continued excellence in the years ahead.”

Welsh's resignation comes after Texas A&M faculty and student government sent letters to the board in support of the university president, according to the Texas Tribune.

“Our goal is not to claim his perfection, but to recognize his character and the evident results of his leadership across campus,” the student government letter reads. "[Welsh carries] a steadfast love and stewardship for our University, one that inspires our faith and confidence in his leadership.”

The university's board of regents said a national search for a permanent president will be initiated in the "coming days."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.