Texas A&M professor fired after viral video disputes termination

The Academic Building at Texas A&M University in College Station is seen on Sept. 9, 2025. — The Tutorial Constructing at Texas A&M College in School Station is seen on Sept. 9, 2025. Credit score: Texas Tribune / Adriano Espinosa

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Melissa McCoul, the professor fired by Texas A&M College on Tuesday for allegedly not altering her course content material to match its description, is disputing her trigger for termination and exploring authorized choices, in keeping with a press release her lawyer despatched to The Texas Tribune on Wednesday.

McCoul’s lawyer Amanda Reichek mentioned the listed motive for termination was that she failed to alter her course content material to align with the catalog and course descriptions regardless of quite a few directions to take action. Nonetheless, Reichek countered that McCoul’s course content material was per the descriptions, and he or she wasn’t instructed to alter her course content material. She had additionally been educating the course for a number of years at that time with no issue.

McCoul has appealed the firing and is exploring authorized motion, Reichek mentioned.

Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III terminated McCoul after a video went viral that confirmed a confrontation between her and a scholar in one among her summer season courses, an upper-level youngsters’s literature course. The video, which doesn’t present anybody’s face, captures audio of a scholar objecting to a professor educating that there are greater than two genders. The scholar mentioned this conflicts with President Donald Trump’s govt order and her non secular beliefs, and McCoul responded by saying she had a proper to show the lesson whereas the coed had a proper to go away.

Texas A&M and Welsh have come below growing fireplace from Republican lawmakers over the video. In consequence, Welsh fired McCoul, revoked administrative duties from the top of the division that oversaw the course and reportedly demoted Mark Zoran, the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M’s second-largest faculty with greater than 15,000 college students.

The backlash from Republican lawmakers essential of the video has put Texas A&M on the defensive, a push fueled by Texas Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, publishing new, unreleased audio recordings of a gathering Welsh had with the coed who confronted McCoul. Within the audio, Welsh defended the professor and the matters taught within the class.

However, because the strain to fireplace McCoul ramped up, Welsh switched gears. Late Monday, he eliminated each Zoran and the then-head of the English division, Emily Johansen, from their positions, saying they authorized plans to show materials that was inconsistent with the revealed course description. The college has not confirmed whether or not they had been fired or re-assigned. Nonetheless, a college worker who works in higher administration instructed The Tribune that each Zoran and Johansen have been demoted.

It’s unclear who’s main the School of Arts and Sciences. On Wednesday, the English division introduced that its affiliate division head would transfer as much as appearing head whereas they seek for a substitute.

In a press release, the Texas A&M College System Board of Regents mentioned they might audit each course to make sure compliance with the legislation. A separate assertion from Chancellor Glenn Hegar praised Welsh for sacking McCoul. She was not tenured and had been an educator for greater than 10 years.

Texas A&M has not recognized any college students concerned in producing the video or audio.

Hours earlier than Welsh introduced McCoul’s firing, Gov. Greg Abbott referred to as the dean and division head’s removing “good” in a put up on X earlier than additionally calling for the professor to be fired. Harrison, nevertheless, responded to Abbott’s put up saying that the removals weren’t adequate and that Welsh “should even be fired.”

A number of Republican lawmakers have since referred to as for Welsh’s removing, and Harmeet Okay. Dhillon, assistant lawyer basic for Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division, wrote on X that the incident was “deeply regarding” and mentioned the company would “look into” it. The Justice Division declined to remark additional. Texas A&M College didn’t reply to questions or present further details about the incident.

Harrison, a Texas A&M alum and former Trump administration official, has clashed with Welsh for months over range, fairness and inclusion insurance policies. In Could, he accused Texas A&M of “egregious discrimination” by providing DEI-related programs and “focused scholar recruitment.” Welsh has denied violating the legislation or discriminating.

It’s unclear how Harrison, the state consultant, acquired the video and audio recordings. He additionally posted a number of screenshots of presentation and classroom materials on X that’s not obtainable to individuals not enrolled within the course.

Welsh turned Texas A&M’s president in 2023, the identical yr Texas lawmakers handed a ban on DEI workplaces and packages at public universities. He took over after the resignation of former President M. Katherine Banks, and since then, Republican leaders have moved aggressively to say extra management over larger schooling.

Disclosure: Texas A&M College has been a monetary supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partially by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no function within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full checklist of them right here.

This text initially appeared the Texas Tribune.

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