The formal installation of Mark Welsh as Texas A&M’s 27th president took place Friday morning (October 25).
Welsh said when he was first asked to do an investiture ceremony, he “gave it a pretty flat no”. Then he learned it was a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages and he said “Aggies value tradition.”
Welsh also said the ceremony is more about the university, adding the president’s job is an opportunity and a challenge to earn the trust of A&M’s faculty, the confidence of the staff, the respect of current and former students, and the support of the A&M system leadership, the board of regents, and the legislature. Welsh said “accepting that challenge publicly holds me accountable. And I do believe in accountability.”
Welsh recognized his parents. His father was an Aggie who fought in World War two, Korea, and Vietnam. His mother raised seven children while working as an elementary school teacher.
Introducing Welsh was his daughter, Liz Beechinor, A&M class of 2010.
Symbols of the investiture, the university mace and a medallion, were presented by A&M system chancellor John Sharp.
Congressman Michael McCaul, whose wife and three of their children are A&M graduates, presented Welsh with a congressional resolution.
Also speaking were A&M system board of regents chairman Bill Mahomes, A&M faculty senate speaker Angie Hill Price, university staff council chairwoman Kat McLelland, and provost Alan Sams.
Click below to hear comments from Mark Welsh and the introduction from his daughter Liz Beechinor.
Click below to hear additional comments from the investiture ceremony.
A collection of images from the investiture ceremony are screen shots from the live webstream provided by Texas A&M:
