As an undergraduate, Dr. William Murphy, discovered research was “cool” under the tutelage of a professor who shared his passion for rock music and discovery. Recently, Dr. Murphy, a researcher in the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, was named the 2025 SEC Professor of the Year, becoming the third Texas A&M professor to garner the honor in the past seven years. In this episode of At Ease, General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M University, sits down with Dr. Murphy to talk about his remarkable research into cat genetics and how it has contributed to our understanding of the human genome – enabling advancements in cancer research among other areas – in this KAMU Studios-produced podcast.
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33:13
Honoring Tradition and Service at Texas A&M
Student leaders Becca Dawson, director of The Big Event, and Abby Kerckhoff, chair of the Muster Committee, sit down with Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III in this episode of At Ease. Now in its 42nd year, The Big Event is the largest one-day student-run service event in the country designed to say ‘thank you’ to our local community - this year on March 22. Today, more than 100 universities around the country have modeled service events on The Big Event. Muster is the university’s most revered and solemn tradition that unites Aggies in remembrance of current and former students who have passed away. Hundreds of Musters are held at locations around the world each year on April 21. Join President Welsh, Becca and Abby to learn more about these treasured traditions and acts of service.
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55:01
Graduating Great Citizens
In this special edition of At Ease, President Mark A. Welsh III sits down with Brigadier General (Ret.) Kim Field, executive director of strategic initiatives within the Office of the President, and Bush School of Government and Public Service graduate student Morgan Schorn ’25 to talk about a new Citizenship and Service Initiative. The effort aims to ensure that all who graduate from Texas A&M University will, through instruction, high impact experiences, and leadership opportunities, be ready and willing to serve as ethical, informed, equipped and contributing citizens of their communities, state of Texas and the United States. President Welsh also addresses recent topics and questions from the campus community, including federal executive orders, S.B. 17 compliance and more.
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49:15
Engineering Better Research with Organs-on-Chips
Dr. Abhishek Jain, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and director of the Bioinspired Translational Microsystems Lab at
Texas A&M’s College of Engineering, has been leading groundbreaking research and creating inspiring opportunities for his students. In this episode, President Welsh sits down with Jain and one of his former students, Ashley Chuong, who is now at the School of Engineering Medicine in Houston. President Welsh explores Jain and Chuong’s work with “organ-on-a-chip” technology to study diseases like ovarian cancer and cardiovascular disease. This research has implications that reach all the way to space, as Jain uses the technology to simulate aging in outer space. Discover the life-changing impact Texas A&M professors are having not just on science but on students like Chuong.
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Aggie Baseball Coach Michael Earley
In the debut episode of At Ease, Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III sits down with new head baseball coach Michael “Mike” Earley to discuss his vision for the program, coaching philosophy and the exciting opportunities ahead for student athletes. That’s only part of the conversation. President Welsh is joined by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Susan Ballabina, who brings an insightful perspective on what’s happening around the university, including efforts to "right size" Texas A&M and recruit key leadership roles – such as the search for a new Commandant to lead the Corps of Cadets. Join us for an engaging discussion that explores the intersection of leadership, athletics and the growing demands of higher education. At Ease with General Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M University, is produced by KAMU Studios.
Welcome to At Ease, the podcast where straight talk meets real insight, hosted by the 27th president of Texas A&M University, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. Each month, President Welsh — a former Bush School dean and once the highest ranking officer in the U.S. Air Force — is joined by his chief of staff, Dr. Susan Ballabina, and special guests from across the Aggie community. Together, they dive into candid conversations that go beyond the typical script. No formalities here — just an honest, in-depth look at the people, ideas and issues shaping the heart of Aggieland. Tune in for a refreshingly informal and dynamic listen, brought to you by KAMU Studios.
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