After 13 years of leadership within the Texas A&M University system, Chancellor John Sharp has announced plans to retire in June 2025.
“We’ve done some amazing things, and over the next year there’s going to be some more amazing things, and I’m not sure after this next year it can be topped,” Sharp said, per The Texas Tribune. “It seemed to be a pretty good time to say hey, it’s been a great ride, and it’s time for someone else to take the reins.”
Under his leadership, the Texas A&M University system has expanded to include 11 universities and eight state agencies serving more than 150,000 students, with the College Station campus having grown to become the largest university in the nation. Sharp has also been credited with enhancing the university’s academic and athletic brands, per The Texas Tribune.
The TAMU website has an entire page highlighting Sharp’s accomplishments as chancellor, a position he has held longer than any chancellor in the university’s history.
Sharp, a former Aggie student himself, served as a Democratic member of the Texas Legislature before he was appointed chancellor of TAMU in 2011. That experience served him well in navigating the politics of obtaining funding for the university system. Sharp reportedly secured $1 billion in funding during the most recent legislative session, per The Texas Tribune.
“I have repeatedly told the chancellor and all within earshot that he is the best boss I have ever had,” said West Texas A&M President Walter V. Wendler, per the Amarillo Globe-News. “Chancellor Sharp has supported my leadership and vision for WT. More importantly, the expansion of the WT campus through system programs and state agencies has progressed significantly under his administration as chancellor.”
Sharp’s announcement of his retirement one year in advance will allow time for the university regents to search for a successor. Sharp has committed to helping the new chancellor transition into the role, per The Texas Tribune.
“(The regents) wanted me to stay through the legislative session one more time to help with that,” Sharp said, adding, “I’ll bring the new chancellor with me.”