The Texas A&M University System paid former President Mark A. Welsh III more than $3.5 million after he resigned amid the fallout of a controversy over the teaching of gender identity issues, according to a separation agreement obtained through a public records request.
In the days before he stepped down, Welsh had pushed for a full payout of the remainder of his contract, something that Welsh seemingly believed some members of the Board of Regents were opposed to, according to communications reviewed by The Texas Tribune.
Welsh became president in 2023 and his contract ran through December 2028 with a $1.1 million annual salary, meaning he had a little more than three years remaining when he resigned. He was also eligible for a $150,000 retention bonus on each anniversary of the agreement, plus a $150,000 housing allowance each year.
On Sept. 17, two days before he resigned, Welsh emailed Chancellor Glenn Hegar and Executive Vice Chancellor Susan Ballabina and told them that Board of Regents Chair Robert Albritton supported giving Welsh a full payout.
“Can’t believe I forgot to mention this to you today,” Welsh wrote. “The idea for the 5-year payout actually came from something Bob Albritton said on our phone call Monday: ‘Mark, I’m so tired of this bullshit … You gotta trust me that I’m gonna push to get you paid that full contract.’”
Welsh’s email also suggests that not every regent agreed with paying him the full amount left in his contract — and points to the tensions between him and top university system administrators ahead of his resignation.
“This is the reason I was a little surprised when you told me they didn’t support the 5-year payout,” Welsh wrote. “I don’t expect you to do anything with this note except double delete it (which is what I’m gonna do after I send it), and I’m not asking you to use it for anything, I just want you to know why trust has gone out the window on my side of all this.”
Welsh’s last day as president was Sept. 19. The board approved his separation agreement on Sept. 26.
His departure came after a secret recording of a classroom discussion about gender identity went viral on Sept. 8, prompting conservative lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, to publicly criticize Welsh for initially refusing to fire the professor involved. He later fired the professor and demoted the dean and department head.
Welsh’s payout follows a series of costly leadership and reputational crises at Texas A&M. In August 2023, regents approved a $1 million settlement with journalism professor Kathleen McElroy after the university watered down her job offer following conservative criticism of her past diversity work. The controversy led to the resignation of then-President M. Katherine Banks. Regents brought in Welsh to replace her and stabilize the university.
Months later, in November 2023, Texas A&M agreed to pay more than $75 million to buy out head football coach Jimbo Fisher, the largest buyout in college sports history.
Welsh declined a request for comment. His separation agreement included a provision that he not discuss the payout or disparage the university.
A Texas A&M system spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
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