Michael K. Young, newly appointed president of Texas A&M University, has also been appointed to the Bush School of Government and Public Service faculty as a professor of public policy. A distinguished lawyer with broad experience in teaching and researching international law and human rights. Young was the Fuyo Professor of Japanese Law at Columbia University Law School and served as founder and director of the Center for Japanese Legal Studies and the Center for Korean Legal Studies. In addition to the Bush School, Young also holds a joint appointment with the Texas A&M Law School in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with students and faculty at one of the best schools of its kind in the country,” said Young. “The Bush School’s rise to national and international prominence in a relatively short time reflects Texas A&M’s status as a world-class institution and our broad focus on service, leadership, excellence and other core values.”
Robert Gates, 22nd president of Texas A&M, former US secretary of defense, and former dean of the Bush School, shared his excitement following the selection of Young as Texas A&M’s president earlier in the year.
“In Mike Young, the Board of Regents has selected a leader of national stature in higher education as well as someone with a broad and diverse background,” said Gates. “I am confident he will lead Texas A&M to even greater success in the future. I am also impressed with his focus on the needs and interests of students as well as on the research enterprise. I believe he will be a great fit for Texas A&M.”
A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, President Young has broad experience in public service and international affairs. He served during the administration of President George H. W. Bush as deputy legal advisor, deputy under-secretary for economic and agricultural affairs, and ambassador for trade and environmental affairs in the US Department of State. During his career, President Young has worked on the treaties related to German unification, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the UN Conference on Environment and Development. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Prior to becoming president of Texas A&M in February 2015, Young served as president of the University of Washington, a position he had held since 2011. He has more than three decades of teaching, research, and leadership experience in higher education and has taught at the law schools of Columbia University and the University of Utah. Young also served as dean of the George Washington University Law School and has been a visiting professor and scholar at three universities in Japan.
Ryan Crocker, current dean of the Bush School, said Young’s legal knowledge and public service experience will be a valuable asset to the School.
“We are deeply honored President Young will have a faculty position at the Bush School,” said Crocker. “He held senior positions at the State Department during the administration of President George H. W. Bush and his years of teaching and research in international law and human rights as well as his broad experience in higher education will bring a unique perspective to the School.”
