WT Salutes TAMUS Chancellor John Sharp on Retirement Announcement

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]
Contact: Dr. Todd Rasberry, 806-651-2069, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University celebrates the accomplishments of John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, who announced July 1 that he would retire in 12 months.

"Leading this grand enterprise has been one of the great privileges of my life," Sharp said. "I feel a deep sense of gratitude to all of you who have shown confidence in me and contributed to our collective endeavor. Together we have lifted the Texas A&M System to historic heights."

The Board of Regents will conduct a national search in the coming months for Sharp's successor, said Chairman Bill Mahomes.

"I have repeatedly told the chancellor and all within earshot that he is the best boss I have ever had," said WT President Walter V. Wendler. "Chancellor Sharp has supported my leadership and vision for WT. More importantly, the expansion of the WT campus through System programs and state agencies has progressed significantly under his administration as Chancellor."

Examples of WT's growth under Sharp's leadership include the addition of the on-campus Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, the Stanley Schaeffer Agriculture Education Learning Lab, and the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences Agricultural Complex and its Happy State Bank Academic and Research Building. Currently under construction is the Geneva Schaeffer Education Building in a $45 million project.

The WT campus also now includes the Charles W. "Doc" Graham '53 DVM, The Texas A&M University System Center, which houses the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and the Veterinary Education, Research and Outreach complexes. Now under construction is the $30 million Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension Center.

The Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center also has opened in downtown Amarillo, now housing the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing, the Center for Learning Disabilities, the WT Speech & Hearing Clinic and more.

Among Chancellor Sharp's other accomplishments across the System:

• A historic building boom with $11.4 billion for 306 projects that improved facilities at all 11 System universities and eight state agencies.
• The Texas A&M University System was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration as part of a group to manage and operate the Pantex Plant, which maintains the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile.
• The Chancellor's Research Initiativebuilt up key research fields by recruiting elite faculty. With additional support from the Governor's University Research Initiative, the effort has led to a five-fold boost in faculty who are national research leaders as evidenced by membership in the elite National Academies in engineering, science, and medicine.
• The transformation of Riverside Campus into Texas A&M-RELLIS, a high-tech hub of research labs and test ranges to innovate for national defense and a variety of other needs. With backing from the U.S. Army Futures Command and numerous other outside stakeholders, the System and the state invested over $1 billion at RELLIS in the past eight years. The campus also includes an innovative academic component.
• The acquisition and growth of the Texas A&M School of Law, which has risen faster in national rankings than any law school in history. It is now considered No. 2 in Texas.
• The construction and renovation of athletic facilities throughout the System, most notably Kyle Field. Reopened in 2015 with more than 102,000 seats, it is the fourth biggest football stadium in the nation and the biggest in the SEC.
• The 10-year agreement to co-manage the Los Alamos National Laboratory, helping with lab management, nuclear operations and national security and scientific research.

A more detailed list of accomplishments is available here.

WT's growth since joining The Texas A&M University System has been pivotal in reaching the goals of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign's new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest's finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men's and women's athletics programs.

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