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THURSDAY, APRIL 16

@THEBATTONLINE

LIFE & ARTS

SPORTS

A&M researcher develops new dental biosensor in order to detect preliminary signs of common dental conditions A2

Partida, No. 10 Texas A&M baseball heads to Baton Rouge for matchup against reigning national champion LSU A5

Ballabina named sole finalist for president Regents pick current executive vice chancellor of A&M System, who previously served in variety of roles at university, System level By Ian Curtis Senior Enterprise Reporter The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents appointed System Executive Vice Chancellor Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., as sole finalist for president of the System’s flagship campus on Monday, April 13. “On behalf of the Board, we are confident Dr. Ballabina is the right leader for Texas A&M University,” Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton said in a press release. “She brings unparalleled knowledge of Texas A&M, a collaborative leadership style and the experience and know-how to guide the university with vision and purpose. Equally importantly, she cares deeply about the people and communities this university serves.” Ballabina now enters a state-mandated 21day waiting period before the Board can take final action. “Having worked alongside so many dedicated members of this university for the past 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand the remarkable impact Texas A&M has on students, communities and our state,” Ballabina said in a press release. “I am honored by the trust and confidence of the Board of Regents and Chancellor [Glenn] Hegar, and if given the opportunity, I look forward to building on the incredible work already underway and leading Texas A&M into its next chapter.” In her current role, Ballabina works with the regents to “advance key strategic initiatives” across the System’s 12 universities and eight state agencies, according to a press release from the A&M System. Before her most recent position, Ballabina served in a variety of roles at A&M at both the university and System level, including previously serving as chief of staff in the Office of the President and leading Texas A&M AgriLife. As part of her prior roles at A&M and within the System, Ballabina coordinated disaster relief efforts through the System’s state agencies, according to the press release. She also played a role in A&M establishing the Aplin Center, a learning hub for hospitality, retail and marketing students supported by a $60 million donation from Buc-ee’s founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III that is currently un-

der construction. “Dr. Ballabina is a proven leader who understands this institution, the people it serves and the responsibility it carries for the State of Texas,” Hegar said in a press release. “As Texas A&M celebrates its 150th year, it is critical that we have leadership focused on results, accountability and preparing the university for continued success in the years ahead. She is prepared to lead Texas A&M forward.” Ballabina — who will be A&M’s sixth president to take office on an interim or permanent basis since the start of the 2020-21 academic year — replaces Interim President Tommy Williams ‘78, who took over in the office after former President Mark A. Welsh III’s resignation following a scandal involving gender studies being mentioned in senior lecturer Melissa McCoul’s children’s literature course. Williams told The Battalion soon after taking office that he was not seeking the permanent position. “I am not the right person to lead this university on a long-term basis,” Williams told The Battalion in October. “I understand that I am very good at helping solve problems and turn things around. I’ve done this before in state government, and I think I can do it here.” In the press release, Hegar thanked Williams — a longtime friend of his — for his time in office. “The A&M System is grateful to Tommy Williams for his steady leadership and service to Texas A&M during this important time,” Hegar said in the press release. “He has provided stability and continuity for the university, and we appreciate his continued commitment to the institution.” The scandal that culminated in Welsh’s resignation sparked after state Rep. Brian Harrison (R-10) posted videos on X in September of a student confronting McCoul after she mentioned gender studies in her class and culminated in the removal of English department head Emily Johansen and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Mark Zoran from their administrative positions. Welsh received a $3.5 million payout from the System after he resigned with over three years left on his contract amidst political pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott and the Board of Regents — according to reporting from the Texas Tribune — after a phone conversation between Welsh and a student in which Welsh initially refused to fire McCoul was leaked on X by

Harrison. McCoul has since pursued legal action against the university. According to the press release, Ballabina was initially part of the presidential search committee prior to stepping away soon before applying for the position herself.

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University Division of Marketing and Communications

Gov. Greg Abbott talks chips at RELLIS Campus Governor shares perspective on future technological impact at A&M Semiconductor Institute groundbreaking By Emily Anderson News Reporter Gov. Greg Abbott was joined by Texas A&M University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar, Rep. Paul Dyson, A&M Regent Jay Graham, Director of the A&M Semiconductor Institute Steve Putna and other stakeholders of the Semiconductor Institute at its ceremonial groundbreaking at the RELLIS campus on April 9. Speakers at the event focused on one point — Texas is stepping up to lead the United States, and the world, in the semiconductor industry. “Leadership is not something you just assume, it’s something you build,” Graham said in his address. “ … This institute will help

do that. It creates a pipeline of talent, training for high-demand, high-wage jobs; it gives the industry a place to partner in skill and innovation; it ensures that the research down here in Texas translates into production here in Texas.” Dyson emphasized the growth that this new facility will bring to Brazos County, as it becomes a leader in one of the most important and growing industries in the world. “Semiconductors are the backbone of our modern economy,” Dyson said. “The power devices we carry, the cars we drive, life-saving medical equipment and the critical infrastructure that keeps our community safe. By investing in a world-class research facility right here at Texas A&M, we are making a clear choice to keep those jobs, that innovation and those opportunities close to home.” Abbott was introduced by A&M Vice Chancellor for Research and Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee member Joe Elabd, Ph.D, who mentioned the impact of Abbott’s Texas CHIPS Act.

The CHIPS Act, signed by Abbott in June 2023, was created to expand and develop the semiconductor industry in Texas. The act established the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium and Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, which helped finance the Semiconductor Institute. Abbott emphasized how crucial the semiconductor industry is in the world right now, and how critical Texas’ role in the industry will be for the U.S. as a whole. “There is a race for dominant leadership in chips, but at the same time we must understand, we need to do it in a way that other countries are adopting the chip used in the United States, so that every platform, every device, every software component that’s going to be built in the future, is going to be built on chips made in the United States of America,” Abbott said. Texas’ position already ranks No. 1 in the industry, Abbott said, not including the new $44 billion Samsung facility that is coming to Taylor. “When you add that to also what Elon

Musk announced with his Terafab lab, the future of semiconductors will basically be three countries — Taiwan, China and Texas — that will be leading the entire world in manufacturing the semiconductors that will be used operationally for pretty much everything that’s going to be done,” Abbott said. Putna told the crowd the institute has goals to connect the semiconductor industry to broader academia. “Those of us in the semiconductor field often refer to the gap between academia and industry as ‘The valley of death,’ and we are committed to bridging those ecosystem gaps and lowering the barrier for innovation to come to market,” Putna said. Putna brought out student volunteers from A&M’s AggieFab Nanofabrication Facility to join in at the ceremonial groundbreaking.

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