Texas A&M University names Dr. Angela Wilson as vice president for research
Former National Science Foundation division director and American Chemical Society past president will lead the university's $1.4B research enterprise.
After a national search that drew top-tier candidates, Texas A&M University has appointed Dr. Angela Wilson, a nationally recognized research leader and distinguished scholar, as its next vice president for research, effective April 1, 2026. Wilson joins Texas A&M from Michigan State University (MSU), where she serves as both a John A. Hannah Distinguished University Professor and a University Distinguished Professor, two of the institution’s highest academic honors.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Wilson to Texas A&M,” said Dr. Alan Sams, provost and executive vice president. “Her deep experience in federal research leadership, her proven ability to build and advance major interdisciplinary initiatives, and her commitment to supporting faculty and research teams will strengthen our capacity to address society’s most complex challenges. She will be a tremendous asset to our students, faculty and the entire Texas A&M research enterprise. At the same time, she will bring with her a successful quantum computing lab that will come alongside an important state priority and support our university’s existing cross-disciplinary efforts in quantum research.”
A chemist by training and an accomplished research administrator, Wilson brings extensive experience leading large-scale scientific programs at national agencies and institutions of higher education. As director of the Division of Chemistry at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), she oversaw approximately $1 billion in national research investments across her tenure and more than 5,000 awards supporting scientific discovery across the country. In that role, she stewarded major national scientific user facilities and played a central role in shaping agency strategy, including foundational work on the “Data-Driven Discovery” initiative, which later became one of NSF’s 10 Big Ideas.
“Dr. Wilson is an outstanding hire for Texas A&M and for the state of Texas. As our university continues to build momentum, we need a strong leader to steward our $1.4 billion research enterprise with clear vision, accountability and a commitment to outcomes that matter,” said Interim President Tommy Williams ’78. “She brings the experience and resolve needed to ensure our research delivers real value for Texans, the nation and the world. Dr. Wilson is the right leader at the right moment for Texas A&M.”
Wilson has also held significant national positions, including president of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society with more than 200,000 members, where she worked with scientists, policymakers, business leaders and international partners to advance scientific research and strengthen university-industry collaboration. She has similarly served as treasurer and board member of the American Physical Society, contributing to long-range strategic planning and national research policy discussions.
At the university level, Wilson has consistently driven the development of high-impact research centers and collaborations. She founded and led major centers in quantum computing and advanced scientific computing and served on the leadership team of a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) research center that she co-founded. Wilson also launched the Midwest Quantum Collaboratory to accelerate research and workforce development across institutions and industry. She has a strong record of attracting external research support, with projects totaling approximately $40 million over the course of her career.
“I am honored and excited to join Texas A&M University,” said Wilson. “As a land-, sea- and space-grant institution, Texas A&M plays a vital role in shaping the future of research, education and innovation in service to the state, nation and world. I look forward to working with faculty, students, research teams and partners across the university to expand discovery, strengthen collaborations and elevate the visibility and impact of Aggie research at Texas A&M.”
In addition to her federal leadership experience, Wilson has broad university leadership experience, including roles as associate vice provost for faculty and director of the Office of Faculty Success at the University of North Texas, and associate dean for strategic initiatives at MSU. Across these roles, she has championed programs that support faculty development at all stages of their careers, strengthened research administration and compliance, and advanced interdisciplinary partnerships with government, industry and philanthropic organizations.
Wilson’s expertise spans public and private higher education, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and corporate partnerships. Her record reflects a strong commitment to transparency, collaboration, integrity and the advancement of research and creative scholarship across all disciplines.
In her new role, Wilson will guide Texas A&M’s research enterprise through its next era of growth and national prominence. Her leadership is expected to further expand interdisciplinary discovery, attract major external funding and amplify the university’s impact in addressing critical global challenges.
Wilson joins Texas A&M’s $1.4 billion research enterprise as the university celebrates its 150th anniversary marking the institution’s unique history as the state’s first public university. Texas A&M has led the state in research expenditures since it first broke the $1 billion threshold in fiscal year 2020. Learn more about the Texas A&M research enterprise at research.tamu.edu.
