Top Ten Moments: January 2025

We’re taking back Texas one season at a time. I’m so proud of our football team for securing another bowl game victory — the second in two years — and showcasing our grit and determination on national television for the country to see. I can’t wait to see what this season brings us. Eat ‘Em Up, Cats!

Our newest piece of public art was installed this month — a larger-than-life sleeping bobcat sculpture called Local Habitat. It’s now resting above Cibolo Hall to greet students coming and going. It was nice meeting the wonderful artist Matthew Mazzotta during our reception.

I enjoyed my last NCAA Convention as a member of the DI Board of Directors. I met so many student-athletes there (who now have the best seat at the table they’ve ever had) and connected with many old university friends from across the country.

TXST is only one of five universities in the country that has a Concrete Industry Management degree program, and we were front and center at the annual World of Concrete Convention. I loved hanging with our CIM students as they competed and learned throughout the convention.

I was the opening act for Beth as we met with the San Marcos Rotary to discuss the Kelly and Beth Damphousse Foster Educational Support Endowment. Their Mardi Gras Casino Night on February 28 will donate 75% of the proceeds to our endowment.

January 29 was a day packed with recording guests for my monthly podcast, The Current. Over the next few months, you’ll hear from alumni and staff about the Strutters, our new Phi Beta Kappa chapter, waving the TXST flag at College GameDay, and our wonderful internship program.

A huge thanks to Bobcat Belles President Raven Griffin for inviting Beth and me to their recruitment reveal where new members were welcomed into the program. These women help football gameday and recruiting events run smoothly. What an energetic group!

Jon Barnhart from EAB spent the day with about 100 campus leaders to discuss the current state of higher education and transformational leadership. It was a great way to spend the day as we talked about our shared future.

It was a pleasure to welcome scientists and entrepreneurs to the BioTX Corridor Mixer at our STAR Park. The Austin/San Antonio metroplex will soon become a major bioscience hub in the U.S, and we’re right in the center of it.

Beth and I had a blast celebrating Chloe Navarette’s birthday. She and her husband John are Bobcat super fans and support students with endowed scholarships. What a great squad!