Texas A&M Division of Student Affairs

70 days until fall classes start! What are you most excited for?

Last week, the Division of Student Affairs hosted our newest cohort of staff members at New Staff Orientation, equipping them with the resources and information they need to hit the ground running.

Welcome to the division. We're thrilled to have you here!

Every person in the room is vital to our mission in supporting students to thrive at Texas A&M. Together, we're strengthening the Aggie community so students can lead with character, serve with purpose and grow into who they set out to be.

A special thank you to the Staff Development Team for creating an incredible experience that sets our new colleagues up for success.

Nearly 1,000 student leaders, advisors, sponsors and participants from across the United States and Canada gathered on campus for the National Association of College and University Residence Halls 2026 Annual Conference.

Behind the scenes, Texas A&M University Department of Residence Life staff and student leaders worked tirelessly to ensure every visitor received a warm Aggie welcome.

From educational sessions on community building and wellness to boardroom meetings on leadership development and operational excellence, attendees left with new strategies and tools to build stronger residential communities.

Learn more through this year’s conference recap: https://bit.ly/4dPewFI

Maria Ortega '03 has dedicated her career to removing barriers and increasing access for Aggies.

She started as the department's sole testing coordinator, and watched Disability Resources grow from having 6 testing cubicles to now administering nearly 40,000 exams every year across two testing centers.

Maria has been there through every phase — from hand-typing exam schedules to now serving as an associate director. Through her 25-year journey, people are what have always driven her: supporting staff, connecting with faculty and helping students feel empowered to access the resources they need.

Read more about Maria's journey impacting access for all at Texas A&M: https://bit.ly/4ogz9j6

Every few years, the Texas A&M bands and choirs break out the passports to bring groups of Aggies on tours abroad for an experience they will never forget.

This spring students from two ensembles, the Wind Symphony and Century Singers, crossed the Atlantic — bringing the sounds of Aggieland to Ireland and Germany.

Often the first international experience for many students involved in Music Activities, these trips strengthen bonds and cultivate a deeper love for sharing the values and traditions that make Texas A&M a great place to be a musical Aggie.

Thank you to the staff in the Department of Music Activities who facilitate these transformational trips!

🔗🎵 Learn more about involvement in music programs at Texas A&M here:
https://musa.tamu.edu/




TAMU Department of Music Activities
Texas A&M Choral Activities
Texas A&M University Century Singers

What an incredible piece of Aggie history! The MSC Wiley Lecture Series has been bringing the world's foremost voices to Texas A&M University students since 1982.

Made possible by the dedication of student programmers, these former U.S. Presidents are on a long list of globally influential speakers who have paid a visit to Aggieland because of this lecture series.

As an official recognized student organization within Texas A&M MSC Programs and the Division of Student Affairs, we're proud to see Aggies creating experiences through MSC Council Committees like MSC Wiley that leave a lasting legacy.

Read the full story below ⬇️

Take a look back at a presidential visit to Aggieland!

Forty years ago, former U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter took the Texas A&M University stage through the Memorial Student Center Wiley Lecture Series, giving students exposure to leadership and critical conversations. What began as a student-led initiative became a lasting Texas A&M tradition thanks to the endowment of brothers James Wiley Sr. ’46 and A.P. Wiley Jr. ’46.

Learn more about this memorable moment: https://bit.ly/4fjGaNr



MSC Wiley Lecture Series
Texas A&M MSC Programs
Texas A&M Division of Student Affairs

What will be up to all summer long ☺️👍 WELCOME CLASS OF 2030! Your journey is just beginning.

Don’t be afraid to say howdy, ask questions, and connect with your Aggie Orientation Leaders this summer!

Who says campus slows down in the summer? 😉☀️

Summer students: This is your time to try new things, meet new people, and see Texas A&M from a different perspective. Step out, show up, and make it unforgettable.

After 39 years of dedicated service, Luke Altendorf is retiring from the Division of Student Affairs.

Since joining in 1987, Luke has embodied what it means to be a student-centered leader. He began as an advisor for students on the MSC OPAS Committee, bringing the performing arts closer to the Aggie and Brazos Valley community. As director of the L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness, he helped students expand their global horizons. In 2005, his work in the department culminated in him becoming the third director of the Memorial Student Center — where he continued a proud legacy of building programs that have prepared Aggies as leaders.

Luke's influence includes division staff, too. In 2023, he transitioned to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs as Director of Strategic Collaborations, spearheading the division's Leadership Academy which strengthens staff's supervisory skills.

His impact will continue to resonate throughout Aggieland for years to come. We wish Luke all the best in his next chapter.

Read more about Luke's journey and service to Texas A&M: https://bit.ly/4wTJbKL