Texas A&M vice president of student affairs (VPSA) and former corps of cadets commandant Joe Ramirez announces his retirement.
In an e-mail Ramirez sent to employees on Wednesday (October 30), he wrote “I have truly been blessed to have had the opportunity to serve the best university in the world as the 45th Commandant of the Corps of Cadets for 11 years and as the Vice-President for Student Affairs for almost four years.”
Ramirez went on to say “These past 14 years have truly been rewarding for my wife and me, and we leave with nothing but fond memories of great people and great times at my alma mater.”
Ramirez, A&M class of 1979, returned to his alma mater in 2010 following a 31 year career in the Army where he retired as a brigadier general.
When he retires January 1, 2025, Ramirez said “I am extremely excited to start a new chapter in my life – one in which I can dedicate more time to my amazing wife Terry, our nine children and eight grandchildren.”
Ramirez added that his plans include “spending some quality time with Terry somewhere in the Caribbean dipping my toes in some warm water, sipping on an umbrella drink, and smoking a good cigar!”
Courtesy of the office of Texas A&M’s vice president of student affairs, here is the text of Joe Ramirez’s e-mail to VPSA employees:
Howdy!
I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the school year as we head into the last month of what has been a very successful Fall 2024 semester. As always, I remain in awe of the superb work you all do every day in support of our students and our university, and I am proud to work alongside each of you every day.
It is with mixed emotions that I send this email to you today to announce that my wife and I have decided to retire effective January 1, 2025.
I am extremely excited to start a new chapter in my life – one in which I can dedicate more time to my amazing wife Terry, our nine children and eight grandchildren. Because of the nature of the work I chose to do over the years, my family has had to endure many sacrifices as a result. As much as I love what I do, I also realize that I need to dedicate time and energy to spend quality time with the ones I love the most, my family. And that is what I plan to do upon my retirement – including spending some quality time with Terry somewhere in the Caribbean dipping my toes in some warm water, sipping on an umbrella drink, and smoking a good cigar!
However, I also know that I am going to miss being on campus every day, working with the dedicated professionals in the Division of Student Affairs and across the campus. I fell in love with Texas A&M the first day I stepped on the Quad as a naive fish in the Corps and Aggie Band in 1975, and those feelings have never subsided. After having served our great nation for 31 years in the U.S. Army, I have truly been blessed to have had the opportunity to serve the best university in the world as the 45th Commandant of the Corps of Cadets for 11 years and as the Vice-President for Student Affairs for almost four years. These past 14 years have truly been rewarding for my wife and me, and we leave with nothing but fond memories of great people and great times at my alma mater.
I am going to miss the interaction with our incredible students, who reassure me every day that the future of this great nation will be in the capable hands of talented and gifted young leaders who represent our proud university with dignity and honor every day. Texas A&M is a special place because of its students, who continue to honor the past through the traditions that we hold so dear, while also searching for innovative ways to make this world a better place. Texas Aggies will shape the future of our world, and I am proud of having had the opportunity to work with these amazing young people over the past 14 years.
I am also going to miss you all, my colleagues, co-workers, and friends in the Division of Student Affairs. Texas A&M boasts the nation’s No. 1 student experience, and it is because of the tireless effort and compassion you all put into your work every day. The Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M is a unique and remarkable place to work, and I am humbled and honored to have had the opportunity to work beside you all over the past 3.5 years. You truly are the best of the best.
Thank you again for all you do for the students of Texas A&M University. You make a difference every day in the lives of those you work with, and you do it all with a positive attitude while upholding this great institution’s core values.
I will continue to work alongside you and the students of Texas A&M every day until my retirement date, and I look forward to the last couple of months of interactions we will share together.
Thank you all for what you have done for me, professionally, and for Terry and me personally. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with all of you and to have shared so many good times with you. We will never forget you and all that you do every day for Texas A&M University.
God bless all of you, God bless the Division of Student Affairs, and God bless Texas A&M.
Gig’ Em!
With deepest respect and appreciation,
Joe
BG Joe E. Ramirez, Jr. ‘79, USA (Ret.)
Vice President for Student Affairs
