Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced his retirement Monday morning.
Sharp will officially retire June 30, 2025. By then, he will have served as system chancellor for nearly 14 years.
“Like I told the Regents, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Together we have accomplished so much,” Sharp said in a video announcing his retirement.
Sharp notified the Board of Regents last month that he planned to retire.
In the video announcing his retirement, he detailed his tenure as chancellor, citing the changes and growth the Texas A&M System has undergone over the years.
“I have repeatedly told the chancellor and all within earshot that he is the best boss I have ever had,” said WTAMU 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.
“We’ve seen our students thrive at each of our 11 universities, our enrollment has grown to meet the demands of a prosperous state,” Sharp said. “We’ve moved up in just about every ranking out there, the level of construction across the system has been unprecedented, and through our agencies, we’ve proudly served the people in good times and taken care of them when disasters have hit.”
The Board of Regents will conduct a national search to find the next chancellor over the coming months.
Sharp earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M in 1972. He was a member of the Corps staff of the Corps of Cadets, and he was elected student body president.
Before becoming chancellor, in 1978 Sharp was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. He later was elected to serve in the Texas Senate, on the Texas Railroad Commission and twice as state comptroller.
While Sharp is retiring from the position, he made note this will not be the last we’ll hear of him.
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