Isaacson, Miller Tapped By Texas A&M to Lead Search for New President

March 5, 2026 – Boston-based Isaacson, Miller has been retained by Texas A&M to lead in its search for its next president. Andy Lee and Julie Filizetti, are leading this search with Raul Bernal and Luciano Zuniga, and Madeline Fitzpatrick. “Choosing the next president of Texas A&M is one of the most important decisions we will make,” said Robert L. Albritton, Board of Regents chairman. “This university has shaped Texas for nearly 150 years and the right leader will set the course to ensure its success over the next 150. We need someone who understands our values and has the vision to lead this great institution into its next era of service, discovery, and impact.”

“We are starting the search process quickly, yet we will be methodical in our approach to find the right person to lead Texas A&M University as this decision will define how we serve our students, our state, and the world for decades to come,” said Glenn Hegar, chancellor.

The next president will inherit a university that continues to set records in research funding, student enrollment, and national rankings. Mr. Hegar said the new president must be a leader who can accelerate Texas A&M’s trajectory, while preserving the core values and traditions that define the Aggie spirit.

The committee is expected to begin stakeholder input in the coming weeks. Chancellor Mr. Hegar’s recommendation for the position of president will be submitted for approval to the Board of Regents.

The next president will bring the leadership needed to advance Texas A&M’s academic, research, and service missions—while embodying the values, traditions, and spirit that define the Aggie community. Several key opportunities and challenges will shape the agenda for the university’s next leader:

• Embrace and exemplify the Aggie spirit, championing Texas A&M’s mission of impact, service, and excellence;
• Strengthen, empower, and unify a high-performing leadership team capable of driving institutional results at scale;
• Lead with transparency and foster clear, consistent communication across a complex governance landscape;
• Leverage the full potential of the Aggie network and Texas A&M’s extensive external partnerships to advance strategic priorities;
• Ensure the university’s infrastructure and resources keep pace with its ambitions, supporting growth, innovation, and long-term success.

Texas A&M opened in 1876 as the state’s first public institution of higher learning. Today, it stands as a research-intensive flagship university, one of only 17 institutions to hold the triple land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant designation. Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station is home to more than 66,000 students. Another 5,400 students are at branch campuses in Galveston and Qatar and at the School of Law, Higher Education Center at McAllen and Health Science Center locations across Texas. The flagship has an annual budget in excess of $2.1 billion. Its athletic teams compete in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference (SEC). The university has more than 522,000 former students who live, work and serve in more than 100 countries throughout the world.

A nationally recognized search firm focused on recruiting transformational leaders for mission-driven organizations, Isaacson, Miller has conducted thousands of placements over more than three decades. More than half of the firm’s work has been in academia, involving university presidents, college chancellors and deans. The firm has filled top leadership posts at Wellesley College, Washington State University, Miami University, Howard University, Bowdoin College, Dartmouth, NYU, Virginia State University, and the University of North Carolina, among others.

Related: Isaacson, Miller Retained by the Brooklyn Academy of Music for President Search

John Isaacson, the firm’s chair, founded Isaacson, Miller in 1982. He has led searches in many areas of the firm’s practice. Mr. Isaacson has helped the firm develop its cumulative knowledge of the craft of search and has attended, with increasing interest, to the missionary purposes of institutions, the political and economic disciplines of specialized markets, and the emotional and intellectual learnings that leaders acquire in a committed working life.

Mr. Lee brings to his practice more than 20 years of leadership in the non-profit, government, and technology sectors. He draws upon his expertise in education reform, healthcare, the environment, and consulting services to identify forward-thinking leaders and help his clients make informed human capital decisions. A member of the Isaacson, Miller team since 2017, he has spent his entire career aiding mission-driven organizations.

Ms. Filizetti leads Isaacson, Miller’s San Francisco office. She focuses primarily on higher education leadership roles in public and private institutions, including presidents, provosts, vice presidents, deans and directors. She also conducts searches in a range of areas, including academic medicine, training and development, advancement, research, and technology. Since coming to Isaacson, Miller in 2007, Ms. Filizetti has developed strong relationships with many clients who turn to her for her ability to adapt to an organization’s needs and grow their leadership capacity.

Mr. Bernal joined Isaacson, Miller as a senior associate in 2021. His experience in higher education includes roles in career services, enrollment management, and executive education and training. Most recently, Mr. Bernal  served as director of career and professional success for liberal arts students at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to his work in higher education, he brings knowledge and experience working with non-profits, foundations, and international development agencies.

Mr. Zuniga joined Isaacson, Miller as an associate in 2023. He is passionate about supporting mission-driven organizations and building inclusive pools. Mr. Zuniga has found senior leaders and board members across a variety of organizations, including higher education, philanthropy, and advocacy. Prior to joining the firm, his work focused on supporting first-generation, low-income students, both as a graduate student and in nonprofit organizations.

Related: Isaacson, Miller Assists UVA in the Recruitment of 10th President

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media