Texas A&M University-Texarkana President Stephen Hensley, Texas A&M University-Commerce President Keith McFarland and Texas A&M University-Kingsville President Rumaldo Juarez were among the 16 A&M System CEOs in attendance.
Congressman Chet Edwards and the other members of the Texas Delegation honored Chancellor McKinney at a breakfast Feb. 6.
(College Station)—The “A&M System Day” held in Washington, D.C., Feb. 5-6 “exceeded all expectations,” and likely will become a regular event, according to Chancellor Michael D. McKinney, M.D.
“The A&M System, unlike any other educational system in Texas, serves people in all 32 Congressional districts in Texas,” said Lee Peddicord, vice chancellor for research and federal relations. “This new event was intended to make policymakers at the national level aware of the strengths and capabilities of our universities, agencies and health science center, and to express our appreciation to everyone on Capitol Hill and elsewhere in government for their efforts on our behalf.”
More than 250 members of Congress, staffers, representatives from federal agencies, and individuals from organizations in and around Washington who support the System’s federal initiatives attended a reception in their honor on Feb. 5. The chancellor and the CEOs of 16 A&M System members also attended, as did D.C.-area graduates of System universities.
The next morning, Congressman Chet Edwards and the Texas Delegation honored the chancellor and the A&M System at a breakfast. Dr. McKinney updated attendees on the scope of the A&M System universities and agencies and reiterated the System’s commitment to its mission of improving lives through teaching, research and outreach. The A&M System university presidents and agency heads in attendance also gave brief remarks on their organizations.
“More than half of the 34 members in the Texas Delegation participated—a major accomplishment,” said Peddicord. “The feedback we got was very positive. Many who attended said they had no idea that the System had such an extensive mission, and that they hoped we would continue to have a strong presence in D.C.”
The Office of Research and Federal Relations, which works out of the System Offices in College Station, oversees the A&M System’s priorities at the federal level, especially on Capitol Hill, assisted by the services of Meyers and Associates in Washington, D.C., which serves as a resource for A&M System representatives who travel there and facilitates the System’s federal interactions. 