Dr. Flavius C. Killebrew assumes presidency
Research and funding to be among top priorities of multi-faceted educator, researcher

Dr. Flavius C. Killebrew became the second president of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in January, trading his West Texas rangeland for the Gulf Coast breezes of the Island University. He replaced Dr. Robert Furgason, who had served as president since 1990.

A native of the West Texas town of Canadian, Killebrew previously enjoyed a 29- year career at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in Canyon, where he served as a faculty member in the biology department, as dean of graduate studies, and in his most recent appointment as provost and vice president for academic affairs.

President Killebrew hit the ground running in January, with legislative hearings in Austin, a gathering with students to consider a tuition increase, and countless engagements with community leaders, benefactors and friends of the University. He spoke to various civic organizations, met the campus community at a January reception, and launched a new strategic plan to take the University to the year 2015.

A multi-faceted individual, Killebrew has served as an educator, an administrator, a rancher and a dedicated researcher. Yet, one of his greatest strengths has evolved from his experiences in external research funding and his record of involvement in legislative affairs, at the state and federal levels. “I found out very early that your school doesn’t necessarily have big pots of money to fund your work. My major professor told me that basically, you need to write for a grant, and you sure won’t get the money if you don’t apply for it.” As the graduate dean at WTAMU, he began developing relationships with numerous granting agencies, many of them based in Washington, D.C.

Killebrew the scientist and researcher has also remained active over the years. He is a recognized expert on Cagle’s Map Turtle, Graptemys caglei, which, based largely on his efforts, has been recommended for listing as a threatened species. “For the past 20 years my research has been focused on this turtle, which is found only by the Guadalupe River in South Texas.”

A declared supporter of students and a strong believer in student activities, Killebrew remarked, “The reality is that the University serves to meet the educational needs of the students. Faculty members are lucky in that they are reminded of that every single day. The further you are away from the needs of the students, the easier it is to forget, so one needs to stay involved with students in order not to forget why you are here.”

“I am a big advocate for providing students the opportunity to work with faculty in a research lab or in teaching. I think it is one of the best retention mechanisms.”

Killebrew earned both his baccalaureate and master’s degrees from WTAMU, and in 1976, after receiving a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Arkansas, he was appointed to the WTAMU biology faculty. He became a tenured professor in 1991 and was appointed interim provost and vice president for academic affairs in 1994. The following year the appointment was made permanent.

Dr. Killebrew is married to the former Kathy Bartley. They have one daughter, Arian, and a granddaughter, Kamryn.