One year ago, Kim McCuistion started her job directing Texas A&M’s efforts to build a new $350 million campus in Fort Worth.
The 44-year-old dean at Tarleton State University in Fort Worth was offered in spring 2022 to be the associate vice chancellor and inaugural director for the Texas A&M-Fort Worth research and academic campus.
Without hesitation, she knew what her answer would be since Tarleton is part of the A&M system, which has 11 regional universities statewide.
“I had a message from a friend that said, ‘The project in Fort Worth is going. We need someone to help lead the effort.’ I just immediately texted back, ‘Yes. Tell me more.’ And it went from there,” McCuistion told The Dallas Express.
McCuistion’s husband, Brian, was born and raised in Fort Worth. They moved back to Fort Worth in 2017 for an opportunity for her to be chief of staff with Tarleton.
“It checks a lot of personal boxes for us, getting to live close to family,” she said.
The couple celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on the same day as the groundbreaking for the Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus on May 21.
“We were able to have a big party and celebrate with North Texas,” McCuistion said.
Since accepting the job, McCuistion’s primary role has been to coordinate the experience from a future user’s point of view.
“I have been working closely with the design and construction teams to make sure the final project will match the needs of those who will be occupying the buildings,” she said.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought McCuistion full circle. She has been with Texas A&M as a student, researcher, and tenured professor.
“I have all of these different touchpoints within the system. This project is very personal to me. It’s personally satisfying for me to bring its benefits to Fort Worth,” the Texas A&M Class of 2001 graduate said.
The first building will be open in 2025 and will serve students studying law and education. The second building will house public-private research and innovation.
“It will be a mix of traditional academics as well as industry and commercial collaborations with projects we will bring on,” McCuistion said.
All construction should be finished by 2027, she added.
“We are on an accelerated timeline in order to bring the resources of the Texas A&M system to North Texas,” McCuistion said. “The groundbreaking was incredible and very exciting. The vision started to become a reality. Being able to break ground and see the parking lot take shape was extremely exciting.”
When McCuistion was hired for the role, Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said she had the vision to pull it off.
“We made a Texas-sized commitment to Fort Worth, and we will keep that promise,” Sharp said in a news release.
McCuistion holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in animal science from Kansas State University, and a doctorate in agriculture from West Texas A&M University. She joined Tarleton in 2018 as chief of staff after 11 years with Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
The new campus in Fort Worth will include The Texas A&M System Research and Innovation Center, as well as an Education Alliance Building, which will host conferences and house professional, technical, and university courses offered by the Texas A&M School of Law, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, the Texas A&M Health Science Center and other alliance members.
Six Fort Worth employers — Alcon, AT&T, Bell, Elbit Systems of America, Lockheed Martin, and Philips — have expressed interest in collaborating in particular research areas. Lockheed Martin has signed a memo of understanding for space in the second building.
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