Regents Name Dr. James K. Nelson Jr. as Interim President for President of Texas A&M University-Victoria

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents today voted to name Dr. James K. Nelson Jr. interim president of the new Texas A&M University-Victoria.

Nelson will start Sept. 1 and will serve as interim president until the board selects a president. Their national search is ongoing, and they expect to name a finalist in the fall.

“Victoria and the Crossroads region are officially on the map in the Texas A&M System, and you can feel the excitement across the community,” said Board Chairman Robert L. Albritton. “Dr. Nelson is a builder of programs, partnerships and opportunity. He understands what it takes to stand up a campus the right way, and he will help A&M-Victoria grow into a powerful engine for students, employers and families across South Texas and the Gulf Coast.”

Chancellor Glenn Hegar recommended Dr. Nelson to the Board.

“This is a great day for Victoria. Joining the A&M System opens new doors in education, research and workforce development, and Dr. Nelson has been hands-on in making that transition real,” Hegar said. “From engineering and agriculture to aviation and industry partnerships, he knows how to align programs with regional needs. I’m grateful to community leaders for their support and excited about the opportunities ahead for students in the Crossroads.”

About Dr. James K. Nelson Jr.

Dr. Nelson currently serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for The Texas A&M University System, where he has provided on-site leadership for the transition of University of Houston-Victoria into the A&M System. Previously, he served as Director of the RELLIS Academic Alliance (2016–2025), Dean of Engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler, and as a longtime civil engineering faculty member at Texas A&M University, Clemson University and other institutions.

A licensed professional engineer and fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Dr. Nelson holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Houston and a B.C.E. from the University of Dayton. Over his career he has launched new academic programs and facilities, strengthened transfer pathways statewide, and led large, multi-institution collaborations connecting higher education to regional workforce needs.

About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $7.3 billion. Through a statewide network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth, and Texas A&M–RELLIS, the A&M System educates more than 168,700 students and makes more than 25 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1.5 billion annually, helping drive the state’s economy.

Media Contact:
Chris Bryan
Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
cbryan@tamus.edu