KINGSVILLE – The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents confirmed Dr. Mark Hussey as the 20th president of Texas A&M University-Kingsville during their regular meeting today. Hussey will begin his new role Jan. 2 according to a press release.
Hussey’s credentials as an agricultural scholar helped set him apart from other applicants, Chancellor John Sharp said.
“Mark’s breadth of experience spans the most prolific agriculture research in the country, the best agricultural academics in the country and 15 months running Texas A&M University,” Sharp said. “He did a great job in each of these and I predict he will oversee the rise of Texas A&M-Kingsville to a whole new level.”
Hussey launched his career in South Texas in 1983 as an assistant professor at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Weslaco. He joined the faculty in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University in 1985 and became chair of the department in 2001. In 2008, Hussey became vice chancellor and dean for agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University. He later led Texas A&M University as interim president in 2014.
A native of Southern Illinois, Dr. Hussey earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Illinois and completed graduate work at Texas A&M with a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding.
Regents announced Hussey as the sole finalist for the presidency Oct. 16.
Regents also approved the President Emeritus designation for Dr. Steven H. Tallant, retiring president of Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
“I am honored and humbled to be named President Emeritus,” said Tallant. “I want to thank the Board of Regents, Chancellor John Sharp for the opportunity to serve as president of Texas A&M-Kingsville for these past 10 years.”
Tallant became the 19th president of Texas A&M University-Kingsville in October 2008.
Texas A&M Kingsville credits Tallant for a 58 percent increase in enrollment over a six-year period during his tenure. The school also says that under Tallant’s leadership, A&M-Kingsville became the 13th public university in Texas to reach more than $100 million in endowment funds, which they say will produce more than $4.5 million for the university to spend in the 2018-2019 academic year.
