Brandon Creighton, a Republican Texas State Senator from the Houston area, is expected to be announced as the next Texas Tech University System chancellor.
Hours after LubbockLights.com broke the story based on information from multiple sources, Cody Campbell, Tech System Board of Regents chair posted the following on Twitter Sunday afternoon:
“After a lengthy, thorough, and comprehensive search, I expect that the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents will unanimously name Senator Brandon Creighton as the Sole Finalist for our Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System,” the Tweet said.
“Senator Creighton is a proven leader, with deep ties to and understanding of higher education. He has been a strong voice in the fight to get our colleges and universities back on track and clearly shares the values and the vision of the Texas Tech community. Texas Tech stands at a pivotal crossroads and is poised to accelerate the pace of massive growth and progress that we have achieved. We are confident that Senator Creighton will continue to advance our mission of serving students, driving research, and strengthening communities across the State, and especially in West Texas. He is, unquestionably, the right person for the job, and we all look forward to working with him,” Campbell tweeted.
Sunday evening, Creighton also took to Twitter.
“I am honored the @TTUSystem Regents have expressed confidence in me and I’m excited about the future of the Texas Tech University System. Texas Tech is the tip of the spear for the future of higher education — leading in academics, athletics, and innovation. The world will continue to see the groundbreaking solutions and unmatched potential coming from this system.”
“Over the past six years, no university system in Texas has taken more bold steps forward. Serving as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and the Budget Subcommittee has been the honor of a lifetime — especially to help deliver that success for Texas Tech and its regional universities. I feel very blessed to have been considered for the role of Chancellor. There is no greater purpose I would consider than working to make generational changes that transform the lives of young Texans for decades to come. Chancellor Tedd Mitchell has been an outstanding leader for the system for many years and I look forward to carrying his legacy forward,” Creighton said in his Tweet.
The Texas Tribune reported Thursday the Board of Regents would meet Saturday to get an update on the search process started after Chancellor Tedd Mitchell announced he would retire.
The story said Creighton and U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, were in the running for the job, according to “four people with knowledge of the conversations.”
After Campbell’s post to Twitter, fellow Board of Regents member Dustin Womble Tweeted: “Looking forward to working with Senator Creighton to build upon the success we have achieved under the exceptional leadership of Chancellor Mitchell.”
Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock and speaker of the Texas House also went to Twitter, posting:
“Congratulations to my friend and colleague Senator Brandon @CreightonForTX on his forthcoming selection as the next Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Senator Creighton’s leadership and expertise on higher education matters will be a tremendous benefit to Texas Tech as we continue to grow its impact across the state and nation. While many in Raiderland may not yet know him personally, I can assure you his values and commitment to excellence will reflect the very spirit of Texas Tech,” the post said.
“This is an exciting new chapter for our university. I look forward to working alongside all Red Raiders to support soon-to-be Chancellor Creighton’s leadership and vision for the Texas Tech University System,” Burrows concluded.
Creighton also helped create the Texas University Fund, a $3.9 billion endowment approved by voters in 2023 that sends hundreds of millions of dollars to Texas Tech, the University of Houston, Texas State University and the University of North Texas, according to the Texas Tribune. Lawmakers established the fund to help these schools compete with the state’s two flagship university systems, the University of Texas and Texas A&M, which draw billions in support from the Permanent University Fund, a $39.5 billion oil-and gas-funded endowment that other emerging research universities cannot access.
Creighton has been a member of the Texas Senate since 2014 and served in the House from 2007-2014.
He represents Senate District 4, which encompasses parts of Montgomery, Harris, Chambers, Jefferson and Galveston counties. Conroe is his hometown.
Creighton, an attorney, has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his JD from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.
