Maintaining a position among the world’s leading institutions of higher education isn’t just about excellence — it’s about impact. In 2025, Texas A&M University proved that it’s not only one of the best universities in the world but also, and more importantly, one of the best universities for the world. In an era of declining trust, social fragmentation and institutional fatigue, Texas A&M stands apart by living its founding purpose: to serve the public good.
Guided by its commitment to the Aggie Core Values, Texas A&M set its sights on becoming a true force for good in the world, centering its brand on character, service and innovation. That dedication to being more captured Fast Company’s attention an impressive four times last year, earning the university distinctions and honors across World Changing Ideas, Innovation by Design, Most Innovative Companies and Brands That Matter. Every day, Aggies live the university’s mission, working to improve lives through vital contributions in a host of critical realms, including emergency readiness, medical education and disaster-response engineering.
World Changing Idea: Alzheimer’s therapy
Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards honored a Texas A&M breakthrough in Alzheimer’s therapy as one of the top 100 projects of 2025. The therapy relies on neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs)— microscopic sacs filled with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective molecules. These EVs penetrate the blood-brain barrier via the nasal mucosa to target microglia, the brain’s immune cells.
Dr. Ashok K. Shetty, a University Distinguished Professor of cell biology and genetics and associate director at the Texas A&M Institute for Regenerative Medicine, is leading the project. By reducing neuroinflammation and preserving synapses, this therapy has the potential to delay cognitive decline by up to 10-15 years, trigger new neuron growth in the hippocampus (the memory center) and avoid the brain-swelling side effects common with current injectable treatments. This recognition illustrates how Texas A&M is translating its mission into tangible innovations that improve lives.
Innovation by Design: Adapting medication doses for children
Fast Company’s 2025 Innovation by Design Awards also recognized Texas A&M’s potentially life-changing research, honoring a project that solves the problem of retrofitting adult medicine for children. Current medication standards tend to treat children as “small adults,” but this generalized approach can cause problems when precise doses of vital medications are necessary. Children’s bodies process drugs differently, and their needs change as they grow. That’s why Dr. Mansoor Khan, director of the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, and his team developed a process to 3D print dose-flexible tablets tailored to a child’s exact weight.
Currently, pharmacists often have to “compound” medications — crush adult pills into liquids — which can lead to inconsistent dosing, bad-tasting meds that children refuse to take and drug-stability issues. The use of selective laser sintering enables the production of medications that are tailor-made to meet children’s dosage requirements.
The best part? These aren’t just boring pills. They can be printed in child-friendly shapes, such as stars or teddy bears and infused with flavors that actually mask the taste of medicine, making it much easier for parents to ensure their kids stay on track with their treatment.
Khan discussed this innovation alongside fellow panelists — including Dr. Dominic King, vice president of health at Microsoft AI — during the “Leaping to New Heights: The Unparalleled Progress in Healthcare” panel. The discussion focused on how breathtaking medical advances, technological innovations and strategic partnerships are reshaping the industry and shaping solutions as a force for good.
A Most Innovative Company
Fast Company also named Texas A&M one of it Most Innovative Companies for 2025, placing the university alongside business icons such as Nvidia, YouTube and EA Sports. Texas A&M was the only university selected for the honor in 2025 and was featured in the March/April 2025 issue of Fast Company magazine, on fastcompany.com and at Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Summit and Gala in New York City last June.
Of the companies listed, Fast Company said, “As the world shifts and industries transform, the World’s Most Innovative Companies aren’t just keeping up. They’re setting the pace. Fast Company’s annual look at the most groundbreaking companies in every industry and across the globe offers a snapshot of innovation today and a playbook for the future.”
Over the past year, the university has undergone a stunning transformation. Once known primarily for athletics and tradition, Texas A&M has become a nationally recognized Force for Good — a brand grounded in character, service and innovation. Through strategic storytelling, restructured marketing and bold creative activations, Texas A&M is proving that purpose and performance can coexist and that relevance is earned through service.
A Brand That Matters
It was no surprise when Texas A&M ended 2025 with yet another honor: It became the sole university in the nation to earn a coveted spot on Fast Company’s Brands That Matter list, which recognizes brands that connect purpose, creativity and culture in ways that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
“Texas A&M does not merely exist to be the best in the nation,” said R. Ethan Braden, the university’s chief marketing and communications officer, at the time of the announcement. “It exists to be the best for the nation. This recognition shows that our mission and our impact are resonating with audiences far beyond our campuses.”
Texas A&M put its goal of being the best university for the world on full display with the launch of its new “Together, We Stand as a Force for Good” brand platform in April 2025. The initiative set out to expand how people see and understand one of America’s largest and most consequential universities. The new platform reframed Texas A&M as not just a university but a contributor to the nation’s progress and security — a university that acts when it matters most. That seamless blend of credibility and action, Fast Company noted, is what allows brands to cut through the noise and build enduring trust.
For Fast Company, Brands That Matter are those that demonstrate cultural relevance, ingenuity and business impact, with stories backed by real results. Fast Company’s recognition of Texas A&M reflects the university’s rising national visibility, record-breaking digital storytelling reach, unprecedented student demand and mission deeply rooted in service. Together, these signals demonstrate that character, community and purpose still resonate in today’s crowded media environment — and that when excellence meets impact, a university can become a force for good.
