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What Texas A&M's 150th Anniversary Means to President Susan Ballabina

For 150 years, Texas A&M University's students, faculty, staff, former students, and friends have stood together as a force for good.

By Dr. Susan Ballabina

Lead photo courtesy Cushing Memorial Library and Archives

For 150 years, Texas A&M University has stood as a beacon of service, innovation and excellence, proudly fulfilling our land-grant mission by educating and equipping Aggies to lead with integrity and purpose. And as we look ahead to the next 150 years, we remain laser-focused on our founding promise: to develop leaders of character who will transform their communities, the state and the world.

Our unending potential and the commonality across our capabilities is our people: our faculty, staff, students, former students and friends of the university. Together, our people power the innovation, discovery, education and outreach. The commitment to serve something greater than oneself and to stand together with one another as a force for good is what makes all the difference in the world.
 

Photo by Abbey Toronjo/Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

And that is the beauty of Texas A&M. The collaborative effort and intentional focus on how to better serve others is far-reaching. Long before I had the honor of being named president, Texas A&M shaped my life and career in meaningful ways. From my start as a county extension agent in East Texas 32 years ago to leadership roles across The Texas A&M University System and university, I have seen firsthand the positive impact this institution has on our students, communities, Texas and beyond. That experience has given me a deep appreciation for this place and reinforced my gratitude for the opportunities made possible by the generosity and dedication of those who have invested in the university and continue to trust us with such important work. The pages of this magazine are full of many such moments, where individuals’ support helped shape the university into everything it has become today.

Our sesquicentennial offers an opportunity to reflect on those opportunities, take a moment and appreciate how we have grown from a small agricultural and mechanical college to a network of campuses meeting communities where they are and tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This is so much more than a yearlong celebration; it is a time of renewed commitment to strengthening relationships, reinforcing our story and fortifying our future.
 

In the months leading up to the official start of Texas A&M’s 150th Celebration, we witnessed significant progress on the Aplin Center and the new Small Animal Teaching Hospital, and we celebrated the grand opening of two new facilities, the Law and Education Building at Texas A&M-Fort Worth and the Nursing and Education Research Building at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen. At the start of the academic year, our Galveston campus welcomed a state-of-the-art training vessel, the TS Lone Star State, for our Texas A&M Maritime Academy cadets, and we have the unparalleled opportunity to lead innovation in space research and discovery alongside private industry through the Texas A&M Space Institute. And that is only just the beginning.  

Every event, partnership and investment brings forward the opportunity to deepen connections, inspire future generations, offer educational opportunities and experiences, and help lay the groundwork for the next 150 years of success.

Thanks and Gig ’em,

Dr. Susan Ballabina
President
Texas A&M University
 

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