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PRESIDENT ’ S DESKVisit our planned giving website to learn how you can make a gift to Texas A&M and to read the most recent planned giving news.
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The Texas A&M Foundation welcomes Kelly Corcoran ’95 as the new Assistant Vice President of Planned Giving. With more than 16 years serving the Foundation and the 12th Man Foundation, Corcoran is excited to apply his development and planned giving experiences to help meet donors’ unique needs. “I look forward to serving our donors as they create meaningful and impactful gifts for future Aggies.”
It’s strangely fascinating to think that Texas A&M University and its land-grant university siblings owe their existence to the greatest divi sion in our nation’s history. As you will read in our Planned Giving Roundup feature on page 2, the Land-Grant College Act of 1862, or Morrill Act, promised to radically expand education access across America by setting aside land to build public universities focused on agricultural and mechanical trades.
The legislation’s namesake and fiercest advocate, Vermont Congressman Justin Smith Morrill, set out to make higher learning “acces sible to all, but especially to the sons of toil,” the common young men who would rarely see opportuni ties to attend college otherwise. He envisioned institutions that would find and distribute new technolo gies and techniques in agriculture while also teaching classic litera ture, military drills and economics. In time, he said, these universities could “fearlessly invoke comparison with the most advanced standards of the world.”
Before the Civil War, the Morrill Act faced stiff opposition. President
James Buchanan vetoed the bill, backing the Southern states’ senti ment that education was the states’ jurisdiction, not a federal mandate. Only when those states seceded did the bill see renewed daylight, passing a year later in 1862. After another 14 years, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas opened its doors on what had been an empty plot outside Bryan, Texas, and the rest is history. Out of our darkest hour, when our United States split cleanly in two, came a humble institution that grew into the sprawling Aggieland we know and love today.
This university, this shining bea con of education, mirrors to an uncanny degree the ambitious land-grant vision Morrill laid out more than 160 years ago. As you read this special edition of Heritage and discover the countless ways Texas A&M still embraces its landgrant roots, I want you to imag ine what our country might have looked like without this significant investment in higher education. How much of our lives do we owe to the dreamers like Morrill who came before us? And more importantly, how can we dream bigger for and invest in those who follow us?
Thanks for all you do.
Tyson Voelkel ’96 President & CEO Texas A&M Foundation
heroes (left to right): President Abraham Lincoln, Sen. Justin Smith Morrill and Sen. Matthew Gaines. Read on to learn how these historic figures paved the way for
universities across the country and opened the door for the
Torie Noellsch
Dunae Reader ’15
ART DIRECTION & DESIGN
Brooke Perry ’17
Jonathan Ball (p. 2)
Cushing Memorial Library and Archives (p. 4-7; back cover)
Rob Greer (p. 18)
James Hughes (p. 2)
Josh Huskin (p. 8; 10-12; 14)
Leighton Jack ’14 (p. 15-16)
Michael Waraksa (cover; p. 20)
William R. Lemmons Jr. ’83, Chair Gina Luna ’95, Chair-elect Kathleen Gibson ’81
George Harris Jr. ’85
Dan Allen Hughes Jr. ’80
Michele Mobley ’87
Louis Paletta II ’78
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Tyson Voelkel ’96, President & Chief Executive Officer John Huser ’89, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Will Fusselman ’95, Vice President & General Counsel Mike Pia, Chief Investment Officer
Aggieland’s deep land-grant roots tell a story of a compelling past and provide growth for Texas A&M University’s exciting future.
questions about how you can plan today to create a brighter
Amidst the outbreak of the Civil War, Congress passed one of the most influen tial pieces of American legisla tion: the Land-Grant College Act of 1862. Also known as the Mor rill Act—named after its sponsor, Justin Smith Morrill, a Vermont congressman—it reserved up to 30,000 acres of public land in each state for agricultural and mechanical colleges. The act led to the founding of 69 universities across the country, including 2,416 acres in Brazos County that later became Texas A&M.
Morrill’s lack of access to higher education motivated him to write legislation to provide edu cational opportunities for the
public, allowing the nation to grow and prosper.
Praised today for its expansion of education access, the Morrill Act created a political divide. At the time, the Republican Party believed the government should intervene to enhance the econ omy by increasing the number of educated citizens, while Dem ocrats believed in limited gov ernment involvement. As states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederacy, many Democratic votes were lost, allow ing the act to pass under President Abraham Lincoln.
As a member of the Confederacy, Texas couldn’t utilize the Morrill
By Mamie Hertel ’24Act until rejoining the Union in 1865. Matthew Gaines, the first Black Texas state senator, was instrumental in enabling the state to act. Gaines advocated for the college despite knowing he could not attend due to segregation laws. Born into slavery, he under stood that public education for all was vital to a developing country.
Since its passage, the Morrill Act has allowed for groundbreaking research, improving the quality of life worldwide. Thanks to the fore sight of Morrill, Gaines and oth ers who valued education, more than 500,000 Aggies have had the opportunity to learn and fulfill the land-grant university mission.
When he passed away on Dec. 28, 1898, Sen. Justin Smith Morrill had served in Congress a record-setting 44 years.
The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University) was the first institution of higher education in Texas.
Sen. Matthew Gaines also sponsored a bill that exempt educational and religious organizations from taxation in 1871.
Did You Know?
A T B L J N S G F A E Y N F D Z X U Q J O V M O R R I L L O G P I G T I H B Q P U G Y F M K R D R M N R L A S T Y H I L O E A T
L U H U B R L I N C G A E N N C E R V E D U C A T I O N F Z T I G I T Q C S S N G M F D L Y J E
I B A I H M O Q I L L B M R H Y S I R S L I L C O J I X K D E U L G X H S O P G A Z D N U S P L A J M S E A Z Y T E V J C E K Q T C I K Z I X N D O C F J O B F I M E C H A N I C S L R K N L V O U P N U C H C G A I N E S D N N B G R E S E A R C H D A S I J Q O T Z V L P H X M K C L X V K
Aggieland’s deep land-grant roots tell a story of a compelling past and provide growth for Texas A&M University’s exciting future.
date that looms large in Aggieland’s history is 1862, when the U.S. Congress passed the Morrill Act, pro viding the means to establish universities devoted to agri cultural and mechanical education, plus military training. As all Aggies know, this piece of legislation led to the found ing of Texas A&M University in 1876.
But 1914 saw one of the university’s central values estab lished. The Smith-Lever Act added annual funding for the upkeep and maintenance of land-grant universities and something else—obligations to “education, research and extension.” The idea was that land-grant universities should share their research with the public for the greater good. With this, the staunch commitment to service—to the community, state and country—was implanted into Texas A&M’s DNA.
Aggieland has evolved over the years. The military require ment was dropped in 1965. Women joined the Corps of Cadets in 1974. The university is now the sixth largest in the country. But through the decades, the school’s emphasis on teaching, research and service has grown even stronger. It’s a sensibility that still informs and inspires crucial initiatives throughout the university, as documented in the following pages. And thanks to the Aggies and friends of Texas A&M who support those initiatives, Aggieland remains steadfast in its roots, honoring its unique heritage every day.
The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas formally opens 14 years after President Abraham Lincoln signs the Morrill Act and five years after Brazos County cit izens donate 2,416 acres. With only six students enrolled for its open ing day on Oct. 2, the university delays its start until Oct. 4, with six faculty members and 40 students in attendance.
From 1876 to the late 1920s, students were nicknamed “Farmers,” but “Aggies” soon gained popularity and became the official student body nickname in 1949.
The Texas Agricultural Experi ment Station (today’s Texas A&M AgriLife Research) is established as a college division under the Hatch Act provisions. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is added in 1915 as a network to dis seminate research to help Texans better their lives.
The Texas Engineering Exper iment Station is organized to conduct engineering- and tech nology-oriented research. The Engineering Extension Service (today’s Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, or TEEX) is added in 1948 and creates some of the world’s top training facilities and resources to strengthen fire safety and emergency response efforts; provide cleaner drink ing water and better roads; and improve homeland security and public safety.
Texas A&M becomes one of four sea-grant colleges in the nation. In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin istration, Texas Sea Grant is headquartered in College Sta tion and strives “to improve the understanding, wise use, and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.”
The Naval ROTC program is estab lished, making Texas A&M the only campus in the nation where a student can obtain a commis sion in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy or Air Force. The university began offering ROTC programs in 1916, graduating officers who have served in every major U.S. conflict since its founding.
Did You Know?
In 2002, Gov. Rick Perry ’72 signed an executive order designating Texas A&M as the Military College of Texas.
Texas A&M becomes a space-grant university as NASA initiates the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, a national network of colleges and univer sities dedicated to expanding opportunities for Americans to participate in NASA projects.
The Bush School of Government and Public Service is founded on President George H.W. Bush’s phi losophy that “public service is a noble calling.” In the 25 years that follow, the school grows to offer eight graduate and five certificate programs for tomorrow’s public servants and becomes a leading public and international affairs graduate institution.
U.S. News & World Report, 2023
1st in the nation for best value for a residential Master of Public Administration degree Value Colleges, 2021
5th among public universities nationally for Homeland Security
U.S. News & World Report, 2023
The Texas A&M University Sys tem Board of Regents establishes the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study to bring world-class talent to Aggieland. The institute pri marily invites National Academy and Nobel Prize-caliber research ers who align with the university’s existing strengths and ambitions.
The Texas A&M University Sys tem wins a federal contract to create a Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Man ufacturing (CIADM), allowing the university to become a national hub for vaccine production and bioterror preparedness. The con tract creates more than 1,000 new jobs in College Station.
Did You Know?
Texas Monthly featured Texas A&M’s CIADM in May 2021 for its lifesaving efforts in creating key ingredients for COVID-19 vaccines.
The National Security Agency (NSA) designates Texas A&M as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in cyber operations. Along side the previous CAE designa tions in education and research, Texas A&M is one of eight univer sities nationwide to hold all three NSA distinctions.
n 2021, cybercrime cost the globe an estimated $6 tril lion, but the potential damage of a cyberattack on our country’s infrastructure or military is incal culable. Today, cybercrime has become a national priority, with much of the country’s operations in both the public and private sec tors online and interconnected.
Recognizing that the university has a duty to employ its vast resources for the good of individuals living in the digital world and, collectively, our nation, Texas A&M is getting down to business.
The university embarked on its cyber mission in 2015 with its Cybersecurity Center and, later, the development of an interdis ciplinary cybersecurity minor in the College of Engineering and cybersecurity programs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Recently, visionar ies Ray Rothrock ’77 and Anthony Wood ’90 created The Texas A&M Global Cyber Research Insti tute with a $10 million gift. While that initiative is just taking flight, another program is producing Aggies well-prepared to fight bat tles that most don’t realize exist.
In 2020, Texas A&M partnered with the other five senior military colleges to create “cyber institutes” to provide talent pipelines to the Department of Defense (DoD). Aggies contributed to the initiative by establishing the Defense Cyber Leader Development Program (DCLDP). This two-year program, valued at approximately $30,000 per student, offers hands-on
training, industry certifications, internships and mentoring to prepare graduates for DoD cyber mission force and cybersecurity work roles.
Dr. John Walter, the program’s director, expressed that its goal is to ensure the best and bright est minds are equipped to safe guard the nation’s interests. “U.S. government agencies real ized how competitive recruit ing had become within the tech nology world, and they knew it would be challenging to attract young people to a cyber career within the federal agencies,” Walter explained.
Each year, 20 students pursu ing one of the three cybersecu rity minor tracks are selected for the program. “We provide all the training they need for as little cost as possible,” Walter shared. During the school year, the students are compensated for working four to 15 hours per week at the Texas A&M University System Security Operations Center. “They’re just starting out, but they’re becom ing experts in real time,” he said. “They learn techniques like how to trace intruders into a network and find out where they’re from.”
“We learned the basics of net working and what normal and abnormal network traffic looks like,” said an anonymous student who joined the initial DCLDP cohort in fall 2020. “We were the first filter, and if we saw any thing unusual, we passed it on to the professionals.”
Students also receive help earn ing cybersecurity certifications that employers look for when hir ing. Though the DCLDP is funded through the DoD, the program could benefit from help with cer tification costs, which can run as high as $1,000 per course. “In the cybersecurity industry,” said the student, “there’s an understanding that degrees don’t matter as much as certifications, which show what you know.”
Internships play a key role in the program, and many students will head to federal agencies tasked with defending the country from cyberattacks.
We can have the best concepts, the ideal structure and the right equipment, but it won't work if we can’t find those individuals trained and educated to solve problems and make strategic decisions.
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“This unique experience allows students to apply classroom the ory to work on real-world cyber defense challenges,” said Erica Pearson, intern program man ager for the Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command, where eight DCLDP students have interned since 2021. “We can have the best concepts, the ideal struc ture and the right equipment, but it won't work if we can’t find those individuals trained and edu cated to solve problems and make strategic decisions.”
“It was an eye-opening experi ence,” said the student, referring to his internship with a federal secu rity agency in 2021. “I interacted with professionals doing exactly what I would do in a future cyber security career.” With his degree in computer science, a cybersecu rity minor and an impressive cer tificate he earned with the help of the DCLDP, the student joined the Air Force this fall to work in cybersecurity. He reported that real-world, hands-on experi ence is essential beyond what’s taught in class because the field is quickly and constantly changing. In addition to gaining experience,
interns are paid. Walter estimates that, on average, students earn $15,000 over the summer. “We try to work out a situation where the interns have sufficient financial compensation to show for their hard work, enough to help them with college costs.”
Students also receive leadership training through cyber compe titions, which present lifelike threats and attacks that require teams to determine the most effi cient ways to solve and defend. An added benefit to the program is that many students receive secu rity clearance for their intern ships, a valuable and necessary component as they pursue gov ernment careers.
Though the program is only two years old, Walter said it’s working as intended. “The Department of Defense has provided tremen dous resources to help pay for student training,” he said. “We received a gift to build a training cyber range and are also looking to expand our offerings in SCADA support.” SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) sys tems manage much of the nation’s
infrastructure, such as power gen eration and distribution, trans portation and shipping infrastruc ture, and water and waste control. Security of SCADA systems is a vital, though often invisible, part of national security.
Through academic partnerships such as the one with Texas A&M, Pearson sees the talent pool for cybersecurity expanding. “We rely on a robust and capable cyber workforce to solve the nation’s toughest challenges,” she said.
Not only are participating stu dents directed toward govern ment work, but they are also ready to make a difference on day one when they get there. “The bet ter prepared students are to take positions of service in federal pro grams, the less lag there is from the time they’re hired to the time they’re contributing,” Walter shared.
Dr. Steve Cambone, the former undersecretary of defense for intelligence at the DoD and for mer associate vice chancellor for cybersecurity initiatives, believes that the university’s land-grant mission makes it imperative that Texas A&M rise to the occasion in the field of cybersecurity. “The fact that Texas A&M was established precisely to bring both education and practical knowledge of what it means to improve one’s security in the world really means some thing,” he concluded.
Contact our team to learn how you can help tomorrow ’ s cyber defenders with a planned gift:
plannedgiving@txamfoundation.com
Dr. A. David Mangelsdorff is not an Aggie, but the fact that he and his partner, Dr. Linda A. Smith ’90, plan to support the future of Texas A&M’s Cybersecurity Center makes sense.
A Dartmouth College graduate, Mangelsdorff has spent his career working in computer pro gramming and applied research and later in networking, telecommunications, cybersecu rity and defense initiatives. He represented the U.S. in NATO research study groups on psy chological support, retired from the military as a colonel, and conducted stress and security workshops. He has also taught as a psycholo gist and professor in the Army-Baylor Univer sity Graduate Program in Health Administra tion at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio since 1973, and has published research on homeland defense and community preparedness.
Smith, who earned her Ph.D. in adult extension education at Texas A&M, is the couple’s link to Aggieland. With a background in medical lab oratory science, the professor initially worked in a teaching hospital and a public health labo ratory and training department. She has taught medical laboratory science at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
for more than 30 years and has won multiple teaching awards statewide and nationally.
Both professors firmly believe that Texas A&M is the place to make a difference in the cyberse curity field. This inspired their decision to use a charitable remainder unitrust—which provides them an annual payout—that will endow a pro fessorship after they pass away.
“Texas A&M has a tradition of service,” Man gelsdorff said. “This gift is a means of continu ing service to the community and the country.” While their gift is not specific to the DCLDP, it will enhance other research and education for the university’s cybersecurity efforts.
“Endowed professorships and substantial research increase the impact of Texas A&M’s cybersecurity program,” Mangelsdorff shared. “The professor who holds this position will influence students and colleagues and bring further attention to the university, which the National Security Agency already considers one of the centers of academic excellence.”
The couple hopes their efforts will inspire other gifts in this area. “Breakthroughs mostly come from a meeting of the minds,” Smith said. “It’s not just one person doing a grand thing. It is everybody contributing. A single gift has an impact. It's like throwing a stone in the water; it ripples out. I think that’s the most important part of this gift.”
When Dr. Elsa Murano (pic tured) first met Dr. Norman Borlaug, the Nobel Prize-winning agronomist and Texas A&M faculty member asked her a simple ques tion: “What do you do here that helps people?”
Murano offered answers—con ducting research, publishing results and teaching students—but the Father of the Green Revolu tion, who is credited with saving a billion people from starvation, thought these efforts weren’t helping people directly enough. “Finally, he smiled, pointed his finger at me and said, ‘It’s up to you that whatever you do in life helps people directly.’ And my gosh, I never forgot that,” Murano recounted.
Today, Murano, who made his tory in 2008 as Texas A&M’s first woman and first Hispanic Amer ican president, is the director of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development. Filling this position, she knows it’s her job to ensure the institute honors Borlaug’s directive by playing a pivotal role in fighting world hunger. The institute does this by supporting small farmers worldwide, such as introducing more disease-resilient coffee vari eties in Latin America and finding ways for Africans to raise livestock in a climate-smart way.
Whenever possible, the institute helps students get directly involved with agriculture around the globe. For example, Dr. Jack Elliot, the regional director for the institute’s
Africa programs, worked with the U.S. Department of Agricul ture’s Foreign Agriculture Service to send students to Ghana, where they taught children about agri culture, conducted field demon strations, encouraged entrepre neurship projects and developed leaders. “It’s basically our version of 4-H on an international scale,” Murano described. The program was such a success that the Depart ment of Agriculture awarded the institute $500,000 to deploy nine Texas A&M students to Guatemala for 10 months this academic year.
An initiative with the potential for even greater impact is entirely devoted to furthering Dr. Norman Borlaug’s vision by ensuring that the “next generation of hunger fighters,” as Borlaug was known to
call agriculture students, have the means to rise to their potential.
In 2019, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences created the Nor man Borlaug Endowed Research Scholars Program through a $1 million matching gift from Cac tus Feeders, a beef and pork pro ducer in the South and Midwest.
The gift was one of the largest con tributions to the college during the university’s successful $4.25 billion Lead by Example campaign.
“In the 50th anniversary year of Dr. Borlaug’s Nobel Prize, Cac tus Feeders was pleased to make the lead gift to establish the Bor laug Scholars Program,” said Dr. Michael Engler, Cactus Feed ers’ chairman of the board at the time of the gift’s announcement.
The Norman Borlaug Institute creates the “next generation of hunger fighters” by helping agriculture scholars achieve their potential and solve global issues.
"Dr. Borlaug was very much a land-grant enthusiast because it’s the land that provides everything for life. And he always said that you must address hunger and poverty if you ever expect to have peace. Peace, he said, cannot happen on empty stomachs.
“We’d like to thank the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for recognizing Dr. Borlaug’s deep connection to Texas A&M and its mission of educating future gener ations of agriculturalists to nour ish the world,” Engler added.
The college has raised another $1 million in matching gifts from generous donors for a total of $2 million. Funds will award 10 undergraduate scholarships of $4,000 per year for a maximum of four years and four gradu ate-level scholarships of $10,000 per year while recipients pursue their advanced degrees. The first scholars were named this fall. “It’s important that we attract the most talented individuals to agricul ture, food and nutrition research to continue Borlaug’s legacy and to further elevate the global reputa tion of Texas A&M as an institution devoted to solving world hunger,” Murano said.
Dr. Cliff Lamb, the director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, said the college is hoping to expand the number of scholars through additional gifts. “We would love to grow from 10 undergraduates and four graduates to 20 undergradu ates and 10 graduates,” Lamb said. A $100,000 gift would endow a scholarship for one undergradu ate, while a $250,000 gift would support a graduate student.
In addition to the monetary rewards and the prestige of being a Norman Borlaug scholar, recipi ents will benefit from special pro gramming such as symposiums where they can present their work and discuss their agricultural experiences. “There will be sig nificant opportunities for Borlaug scholars,” Lamb added.
While the Borlaug Institute’s focus is international agriculture,
students are not required to con centrate on this area. Scholars will be selected from the following disciplines: plant sciences, nutri tion sciences, food sciences, envi ronmental sciences, agricultural engineering, education and lead ership, economics, and policy.
Any of these areas of study can apply internationally. “Econom ics is important, for example, because it often determines how you engage people in agriculture,” Murano said. “In many coun tries, women don’t have access to credit, so they can’t secure a loan for start-up costs to grow crops or raise livestock.” Understand ing hurdles such as these help students determine how they can be most effective and best fulfill Borlaug’s vision.
“The wheel of life revolves around every aspect of agriculture,” Murano concluded. “It’s the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the wood for the homes we live in. We’re continuing to encourage our students to pursue degrees in agriculture because it is the basic tenant of the land-grant university system. Dr. Borlaug was very much a land-grant enthusiast because it’s the land that provides every thing for life. And he always said that you must address hunger and poverty if you ever expect to have peace. Peace, he said, cannot hap pen on empty stomachs.”
Afifth-year life sciences and biophys ics Ph.D. candidate, Devon Boland ’24 describes “Botryococcus braunii” as “a mouth ful.” “To tell you the truth, I said it wrong my entire first year,” he confessed, referring to the microalga at the center of his research.
This tongue-twisting species holds great prom ise, Boland believes, for pointing the way to a cleaner, more economical alternative to oil and gas production. And the fact that Boland was named a fellow in the first cohort of Norman Borlaug Endowed Research Scholars proves that others believe he is onto something big.
The fellowship comes with funds to help Boland complete his research, not to mention enormous prestige. “To even be considered an applicant for an award with Norman Borlaug’s name on it is an honor,” he said. “But to get the award is huge. I still can’t believe it.”
The scholar studied biophysics, specifically protein interactions, at Northern Illinois Uni versity as an undergraduate. Upon arriving at Texas A&M in August 2018, he took a plants course and became familiar with microalgae
when he began working in Dr. Tim Devarenne’s lab. “It was like a light switch turned on,” Boland recalled.
He explained that microalgae are consid ered some of the most diverse plant life on the planet. There are an estimated 400,000 algae species, most yet to be discovered, and only 15 microalgae that are in commercial use. “Whether for combustive fuels, bioenergy or forms of nutrition, there’s incredible microal gae research on the horizon.”
Having already cataloged the genomes for the microalga B. braunii, Boland is trying to dis cover how this species produces hydrocar bons. “We have identified key steps in how they’re made, but we don’t have the full picture yet,” he said. “The idea is that once we under stand the entire framework, we can engineer these pathways into other organisms that we already use and create biofuels for use in combustive engines.”
Boland envisions devoting his life to studying microalgae. “Every step forward in research gets us closer to finding that once-in-a-life time discovery,” he said. “That discovery could be a huge revolutionary force in contribut ing to ending world hunger or solving our energy dependency. It’s never just one person and could take a lifetime, but I will gladly be part of that.”
ince its early beginnings, Texas A&M University’s Corps of Cadets has transformed wetbehind-the-ears students into well-rounded adults who have a heart for service. World War II proved the Corps’ role in pro ducing servant leaders with over 20,000 Aggies serving, more than 950 of whom paid the ultimate sac rifice for their country.
More than 145 years later, the Corps is optional, and a majority of cadets do not commission into the military. However, there is still one key component to a cadet’s time in the Corps: learning to lead through service to others.
Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Texas A&M President, understands cadets’ post-graduation impact and has made the Corps of Cadets a priority with the “March to 3,000” campaign to grow the Corps to 3,000 members by 2030. “We have a duty and obligation to our state and nation to continue develop ing leaders of character, and I am in full support of expanding the opportunities the Corps provides our students,” Banks said.
More cadets means more oppor tunities to educate young minds on leadership and character, and there’s no place better prepared to do so than the Corps of Cadets’ Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership (HCEL).
Beginning as the Leadership Excel lence Program in the early 2000s, the HCEL was named for Lt. Gen. James F. Hollingsworth ’40 in 2012
after a generous estate gift from Hollingsworth and his wife, Janie. In 2017, under the new leader ship of Dr. David Keller ’07, the program’s name was updated to include a word that differen tiates Texas A&M’s leadership program from those across the country: ethical.
Hollingsworth, the epitome of an ethical leader in both the military and business worlds, is known as the most decorated general in Texas A&M’s history. He partici pated in seven major World War II campaigns and was wounded five times. He served in combat in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and was liaison to the Army Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C. After retiring from the Army, he became a leading aerospace tactical tech nology consultant for the next 21 years. Named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1980 and a Corps of Cadets’ Hall of Honor inductee in 1994, Hollingsworth selflessly served Texas A&M as an advisor to the university’s leadership.
While a memorial statue of Hollingsworth stands on campus, his presence is truly felt through the leaders who are taking shape in the HCEL. Throughout five semes ters beginning their sophomore year, cadets take classes in which they study the central tenants of ethical leadership. Col. Kenneth Allison ’85, the HCEL’s associate director, said participants begin by focusing on self-awareness, learning to better understand themselves, their strengths and their weaknesses. “We have them
closely examine their values, prin ciples and personality traits,” Alli son shared. “We believe that to effectively and ethically lead oth ers, you have to first know and lead yourself.”
Upon the program’s conclusion, students who satisfactorily com plete all requirements earn a Cer tificate in Applied Ethical Leader ship. This credential, awarded to less than 2% of Texas A&M gradu ates, emphasizes students’ inten tional personal development to meet the ethical demands of the 21st century. This past year, the Corps awarded 168 certificates to students across 70 different aca demic majors.
Knowing that personal connec tions are vital to post-graduation success, the HCEL not only teaches cadets what they need to know, but also connects them with who they need to know.
As the Corps of Cadets strives to meet 3,000 members by 2030, the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership prioritizes building servant leaders of character.
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We believe that to effectively and ethically lead others, you have to first know and lead yourself.
Through its “Hire a Cadet” pro gram established with the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Associa tion, the HCEL offers networking opportunities and exclusive expo sure to companies seeking the qualities found in Corps members. Companies and former students interested in finding top candi dates for internships, part-time or full-time work can submit a job opening. “R U Ready” events and other tailored engagement activities allow company repre sentatives to talk to cadets about career readiness and employment opportunities.
As cadets grow in the HCEL, Keller knows he must purpose fully grow the program for their continued success. Increasing staff and implementing an offi cial mentoring program are two of the many ways he plans to keep the HCEL at the top of its game. “The Hollingsworth Center is crit ical to the Corps’ growth plan,” he shared. “As we expand, most growth will likely come from
students seeking world-class lead ership development to prepare for careers and service outside of the military.”
Allison looks forward to expand ing the center’s mentoring oppor tunities. “Having a diverse group of cadets with a wide range of career interests, it is a tremendous task to identify mentors, vet them and match them with students,” he explained. “We’d like to offer a structured program that includes assessments of how well the pro gram is working.”
Additionally, endowed gifts of $25,000 or more could fund cor porate training opportunities and events, innovative classroom technologies, and more lectures by experts in industry, nonprofit and entrepreneurial sectors to further enhance cadets’ leadership learning.
“Our resources must increase with our scope,” Keller said. “Our focus is to help cadets become
better leaders as a result of their Corps experiences, so they can find success in their careers and proudly represent both the Corps and Texas A&M with character and distinction.”
While the HCEL didn’t exist when Robert Perryman ’78 attended Texas A&M and pursued a busi ness degree, he attributes much of his success to his experiences as a member of Squadron 12. “In the Corps, I learned skills includ ing the core values of leadership as described in the Corps of Cadets Standard,” Perryman said. Today, those values include honor, cour age, integrity, discipline, respect and selfless service. “These les sons have been guiding principles throughout my career and have served me well.”
Inspired by gratitude, Perryman and his wife, Karen, planned a gift in their estate that will ben efit the HCEL. Using a charitable remainder trust, they are lever aging their tax-deferred assets to leave a stream of payments for their children and grandchildren. However, the opportunity to cre ate future servant leaders is what they are most excited about.
“I’m confident that our gift will truly benefit students,” Perryman said, “and I’m hopeful that the skills cadets learn will help develop the leaders needed to serve our local communities, Texas and the United States.”
Interested in planning a gift to help the Corps build ethical leaders? Contact our team
Gabby Clark McCoy ’12, A-Battery in Corps of Cadets Chief of Staff, Racial Equity Shared Value Networks, Walmart
W Lander ’17, C-Battery in Corps of Cadets Assistant Manager of Compliance for Gerson Lehrman Group
“Learning to lead from a position of authenticity. People can adopt many leadership styles, but the standard begins with each individual embracing the authentic version of themselves.”
“Realizing that you can and should learn from the people you manage. Everyone has unique strengths that may differ from your own. Just because you’ve done some thing longer does not mean you know everything or should stop learning.”
“Understanding that ‘it’ (whatever it represents) is not about them. Servant leaders are intentional about listening to others and cre ating an environment for growth, development and belonging.”
“Acting selflessly in the inter ests of others. A real leader cannot pretend to have all the answers. To serve those they lead, leaders should listen. Before responding, they should think. And when responding, they should show compassion.”
“Drive initiatives to advance fairness, equity and justice within our business and soci ety. With that in mind, there is an expectation to commu nicate effectively, lead with compassion and meet indi viduals where they are.”
“Adapt to a variety of situa tions with colleagues and cli ents from around the world. The lessons learned as part of the Hollingsworth program prepared me to respond to many situations with a calm and confident demeanor.”
My most valuable leadership takeaway was…
Real leaders serve others by…
Today, I use the leadership skills I learned in the Corps to…
It’s never too early to start thinking about your Aggieland legacy. Learn from our passionate professionals as they answer questions about how you can plan today to create a brighter future for tomorrow’s Aggies. By Torie Noellsch
It’s never too early to plan for the future! Life’s circumstances con stantly change, and estate planning is crucial at every stage in your life. Having an estate plan that clearly outlines what will happen with your personal assets after your life time is so important. By keeping your estate planning documents up to date as your life and family situations evolve, you are provid ing a valuable service to your fam ily both now and in the future.
Kelsey Christian ’02 Senior Planned Giving OfficerI work in planned giving and am also a planned giving donor! Expe riencing both sides, I can testify that planning a gift is very easy. After discussing my financial goals with my advisors, I determined that my retirement account was the best giving avenue for me. From there, I simply updated my beneficiary designation and worked with a development officer to document what I wanted my gift to support at Texas A&M.
Jennifer Hester ’98 Planned Giving OfficerTexas A&M is grateful for any sup port, no matter the size. However,
there are various ways to incor porate estate giving into your plans. Certain methods, like char itable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, require a min imum because they can provide you with annual payments and tax advantages. Other vehicles—like gifts in wills and beneficiary desig nations—don’t require minimums and make it easy to significantly impact the Texas A&M area you hold dear.
Brian Harrison ’91 Planned Giving OfficerPlanned gifts offer significant advantages to you and your family. As Brian mentioned, depending on the type of gift, you can benefit from tax deductions, bypass capi tal gains or receive payments for yourself or your family, all while creating your legacy at Texas A&M to support an area you’re passion ate about. Also, most planned giv ing methods are revocable, which gives you and your family ultimate flexibility in your estate planning.
Kevin Westerman ’11 Senior Planned Giving OfficerAll planned gifts made to the Texas A&M Foundation can be designated to support your spe cific passions! We have individu als who choose to create and fund
named scholarships, graduate fellowships or faculty chairs, as well as those who support college or department programs or stu dent organizations. It’s up to you to decide how you would like your gift used; carrying out your wish is our priority.
Amy Bacon ’91 Senior Planned Giving OfficerFlexibility is one of the many advantages of a planned gift. Giv ing methods such as bequests or IRA/401(k) beneficiary designa tions are revocable, which means you can easily make changes to your gift in the future. Not only can you update your gift amount, but you can also adjust the spe cific areas of Texas A&M you want to support to best reflect your passions.
Kelly Corcoran ’95Assistant Vice President of Planned Giving
Have more questions? We look forward to helping you! Contact our team at:
As far back as 1915, Texas A&M AgriLife county extension agents like E.W. Thomas (far left) have molded the minds of young Texans through hands-on 4-H projects. Whether teaching livestock judging, fashion and interior design, or public speaking, these mentors have profoundly impact ed youth, helping them become well-rounded individuals who serve their communities. Today, Texas 4-H, founded in 1908 with 25 members, achieves Texas A&M University’s land-grant mission of educating the public by engaging 500,000 youth every year in learning experiences, leader ship development and community service.
The life-changing youth development in 4-H is support ed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, one of many organizations established by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. By cultivating each member’s head, heart, hands and health, Texas 4-H and Texas A&M AgriLife continue to fos ter future generations of leaders.
