Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M University, resigned amid growing backlash over a viral classroom video in which a professor discussed gender identity in a children’s literature course. The controversy led to the firing of the professor, Melissa McCoul, and the removal of two department leaders. While Welsh did not explicitly say that the viral incident caused his resignation, many observers see a clear connection between the political pressure he faced and his decision to step down.
The incident involved a class reading material that included a nonbinary character, “Jude Saves the World,” and discussion of gender identity tools like the “gender unicorn.” A student objected in class, citing religious beliefs and the assertion that the lesson was inconsistent with public statements about gender made by leaders. The lecture segment was recorded and shared publicly, triggering criticism from state lawmakers. Conservative leaders accused the university of promoting “gender ideology,” while McCoul defended her curriculum as fitting the course’s content in prior years without issue.
After the video spread, Welsh dismissed McCoul, claiming the course content strayed from the catalog description. He also removed the dean of Arts & Sciences and the head of the English Department. State Representative Brian Harrison, among others, had called for those firings. Governor Greg Abbott and other officials had sided with critics, stressing that classrooms should not teach unadvertised content. At the same time, faculty and free speech advocates raised alarms about academic freedom and political interference in course content.
In his resignation statement, Welsh said “now is that time” to turn over leadership and did not directly link the video or pressure from political figures as the sole reason. He had expressed earlier that the course material should match advertised descriptions, a point of contention. Supporters of Welsh praised his service and commitment, arguing he was caught between competing demands. Critics, meanwhile, saw his removal as a victory for efforts to limit instruction on gender identity and LGBTQ+ themes in higher education.
This episode reflects broader tensions nationwide, as universities face growing demands to enforce stricter controls on curriculum, especially around gender, sex, and inclusion content. It raises questions about where academic freedom ends and political oversight begins, and how institutions will balance the two going forward.
