Loftin chosen lone finalist for A&M presidency
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In addition to earning a bachelor's degree in physics from TAMU, Loftin also holds a master's and Ph.D. from Rice University, both also in physics. He was a professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and was the university's director of simulation programs and executive director of the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center. He also is a former professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science and director of the NASA Virtual Environments Research Institute at the University of Houston.
Ferrier has been serving as interim president of TAMU-San Antonio since last summer. Foster described her as a "champion for higher education." She began her career at TAMU-San Antonio in April 2008 as executive director when the university was operating as a system center. She came to the system after holding a number of national education appointments, including directing the Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students in the U.S. Department of Education under President George W. Bush. She served as deputy undersecretary and then assistant deputy secretary, advising the secretary of education regarding limited-English proficient students and Hispanics. She also served as a liaison between chambers of commerce nationwide and the U.S. Department of Education.
Ferrier holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Our Lady of the Lake University, and a doctorate from Texas A&M University.
Kirby will serve in an interim role as president of TAMU-Central Texas while a search continues for a permanent president. Kirby retired from TAMU-Kingsville in 2000, closing out a 30-year career that began as a faculty member in the College of Business Administration. He served in a number of other positions, including professor, dean of the College of Business Administration, provost, vice president for academic affairs and special assistant to the president.
After retiring, he was called on to serve in a number of academic positions, including special advisor to the president at TAMU-Kingsville, interim provost at West Texas A&M and interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at TAMU-Corpus Christi.
Kirby holds a bachelor's degree from East Texas Baptist College, a master's from Texas A&I and a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University.
