Christian E. Hardigree has been named the sole finalist for president of Texas A&M University-Victoria, a newly acquired campus in the Texas A&M University System.
Before its acquisition in June, Texas A&M University-Victoria was known as the University of Houston-Victoria. During the fall 2023 semester, the university enrolled over 2,700 undergraduate students and nearly 1,100 graduate students. Women represent about 63 percent of the university’s undergraduate population.
Hardigree comes to her new role from the University of South Florida, where she has been serving as regional chancellor of the St. Petersburg campus. Earlier in her career, she was founding dean of the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University in Denver and founding director of the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability & Hospitality at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the sole finalist for president of Texas A&M University–Victoria. This is a pivotal moment for the university, and I am inspired by its mission to advance academic excellence, foster student success, and serve as a catalyst for opportunity and economic growth across South Texas,” said Hardigree. “I look forward to working with our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to elevate the university’s visibility, strengthen its impact, and build a vibrant future together.”
Hardigree holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a juris doctorate from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.