Presidential Search Advisory Committee Announced for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

(College Station, TX) - The Search Advisory Committee for the position of president of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has been formed. Dr. Leo Sayavedra, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for The Texas A&M University System, will serve as the chair of the committee.

The committee members are: Dr. Moustafa Abdelsamad, dean of the College of Business at A&M-Corpus Christi; Phil Adams, A&M System regent; Dr. Adolfo Benavides, assistant dean and associate professor of economics at A&M-Corpus Christi; Dr. Johnston Brendel, associate professor of education at A&M-Corpus Christi; Dr. Suzzette Chopin, professor of biology at A&M-Corpus Christi; Ed Gorecki, president of the Student Government Association at A&M-Corpus Christi; Dr. Trent Hill, vice president for institutional advancement at A&M-Corpus Christi; Dr. Diana Ivy, speaker of the Faculty Senate and professor of communications at A&M-Corpus Christi; Nick Jimenez, editorial page editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times; Cassidy Johnson, former president of the Student Government Association at A&M-Corpus Christi; Bill Jones, A&M System regent; Melvyn Klein, president of JAKK Holding Corporation and Corpus Christi civic leader Karen O’Connor.

“This is an excellent committee,” said Dr. Benton Cocanougher, interim chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “It has representation from many of the constituencies that are important to the future development of the university.”

Screening of candidates will begin July 1 and will continue until the position is filled. The Search Advisory Committee will present their recommendations to the chancellor, who will make a recommendation to the Board of Regents. It is hoped the position will be filled by the end of this year.

“I am expecting a strong and diverse candidate pool for this position,” said search chair Dr. Leo Sayavedra. “A&M-Corpus Christi is a university with tremendous momentum, community support and a very bright future.”

A&M-Corpus Christi President Robert R. Furgason announced in April of this year that he would step down as president once a replacement was named and become director of the University’s Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.