The president of Texas A&M University stepped down Friday after facing criticism for firing a professor who taught a children’s literature course that recognized more than two genders.

President Mark Welsh resigned at “the right moment for change,” said University System Chancellor Glenn Hegar, as controversy swirled over a student who filmed herself objecting to the lesson.

“Together, we believe this transition is necessary to ensure Texas A&M is well positioned for the future, a future that demands bold leadership, continued innovation, and an unwavering commitment to the core values of this university to meet the challenges we face,” Hegar said in a statement Thursday. “President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication.”

His announcement makes no mention of the viral video that thrust the school into the political spotlight and subjected Welsh to criticism over the past week. 

In it, an unidentified student can be heard confronting professor Melissa McCoul for teaching about a so-called “gender unicorn,” a term used to explain the difference between gender identity and gender expression.

“I’m not entirely sure this is legal to be teaching because according to our president, there’s only two genders and he said he would be freezing agencies’ funding programs that promote gender ideology. And this also very much goes against, not only myself but a lot of people’s religious beliefs,” a student can be heard saying off camera in the video.

“If you are uncomfortable in this class you do have the right to leave,” another voice, thought to be the professor, responds after a brief back-and-forth.

Welsh last week directed the campus provost to fire McCoul, a senior lecturer in the English department, after political pressure from Republican lawmakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott, who had called for her termination — sparking backlash from school faculty and other lawmakers.

Welsh said she was fired because she continued teaching content in a class “that did not align with any reasonable expectation of standard curriculum for the course.”

He also said the course content did not match its catalog descriptions.

McCoul’s attorney, Amanda Reichek, claimed the “content was entirely consistent with the catalog and course description, and she was never instructed to change her course content in any way, shape, or form.”

Welsh also ordered the removal of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English Department from their administrative positions, while Hegar ordered an audit of courses at all 12 schools in the system.

The university system did not immediately respond to an email requesting a copy of his resignation letter.

It also did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment from Welsh.

Hegar described Welsh as working tirelessly and selflessly during his presidential tenure, which started in 2023.

Welsh previously worked as dean of the university’s school of government and public service after retiring from the US Air Force, according to the school’s website.

With Post wires