And his ambitious goals for continued prosperity at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will ensure future generations can obtain affordable higher education many more decades to come.
Killebrew, president and CEO since 2005, is currently overseeing the most aggressive expansion in the university’s 63-year history.
It doesn’t take a visitor to the 240-acre university long to encounter one of the many new building projects, the most visible being the construction of the $25 million Michael and Karen O’Connor Building. When completed, the facility made possible by the late Corpus Christi businessman and his wife will be home to the University’s College of Business.
“The 75,000 square-foot facility will house a Center for Economic Research with space for an Executive Education Department, faculty offices, classrooms and two computer labs,” says Killebrew. “This building is the ideal example of a public and private partnership.”
Currently, approximately 1,400 undergraduate and 200 graduate students are enrolled in the university’s College of Business pursuing degrees in business administration.
Another major expansion project is Island Hall, the future home to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and College of Education’s Kinesiology program.
“The $45 million, 140,000 square-foot building will include a simulated hospital ward and patient simulator laboratories,” he adds with pride. “It should be open and ready for students by this fall.”
Earlier this year, university officials opened the Woo Sung Lee Alumni Welcome Center, designed to greet graduates visiting campus and provide a hospitable venue for prospective students and their families.
Killebrew exudes a warm confidence when speaking about his diligent work to ensure the university is prepared to accommodate students well into the next decade.
“In May, we should start construction of a tennis complex on the land given to the university by the City of Corpus Christi. After that, we anticipate adding a track and soccer complex. We currently don’t have a facility for our track teams.”
Although Killebrew says the latter project cannot begin until the ball fields are moved, he adds officials from the city report they are making progress in developing new facilities.
All of these new buildings and planned projects are Killebrew’s attempt to keep up with the university’s ever-growing student population, which is not an easy task considering the state’s budget deficits and the slowdown in philanthropic giving.
Last fall, enrollment numbers were just around 9,500 students, another record for the university.
“All state agencies have been asked to cut $1 billion as a whole. That is worrisome for us because we’ve been growing all the while being a quarter of a million square-feet short of the proper amount of space needed to accommodate the number of students we have,” he says.
“People see our annual operating budget of $150 million and believe it’s a lot of money. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a large organization and the sad reality is that the state’s portion of educating students is shrinking. Meanwhile, the financial responsibility for our students and their parents is increasing.”
He thinks of the university as a small city, with retail shops, a police department and basically any other department needed to run a community.
“If you consider our size, we’d be one of the largest communities outside of Corpus Christi throughout the Coastal Bend.”
Killebrew believes now more than ever private funding is part of the solution.
“Our nation’s economy has definitely been a stumbling block for us. The key is making the mandated reductions in our budget without reducing the educational quality of our courses. With an average of 6 or 7 percent increases in enrollment each year, this is tough to do.”
In a perfect world, he acknowledges the university would fund growth enrollment with the increased tuition coming in from the new students. However, the money is being used to fund a deficit, a dangerous path to undertake.
“That’s where a cap in enrollment would possibly come into play because we’d have to do more with fewer dollars. You’ll never dig yourself out of the hole at that rate,” the president says.
Born in Canadian, Killebrew became the 10th president at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in January 2005. He and his wife, Kathy, have one daughter, Arian, who is a registered nurse for an emergency transport helicopter company in San Antonio.
From 1994 to 2004, he served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU), where he was responsible for administration of all academic and research programs.
Previously, he served at WTAMU as the director of the Graduate School and dean of the Graduate School and Research. He also spent a year as interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs before being named to the position permanently in 1994.
He earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from WTAMU and, after obtaining his doctorate degree in zoology from the University of Arkansas, he returned to West Texas as an assistant professor of biology. His research on endangered turtles has helped save the Cagle’s Map Turtle from extinction.
West Texas A&M University in Canyon was a landmark location for Killebrew in many ways. He recalls with fondness meeting his future wife at the university.
“Kathy worked in the Biology Department as our secretary. I was one of those faculty members with terrible handwriting,” he chuckles. “I had to translate for her all the time. Then I ran into her at a post office a few years later and the rest is history.”
Kathy majored in dance at Southwest Missouri State University, and toured with a semi-pro dance company in North Dakota, Killebrew says.
Reflecting back on his six years at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Killebrew says three major events stand out as significant milestones during his tenure.
City of Corpus Christi Land Donation
In 2007, Killebrew worked with the City of Corpus Christi on the donation of around 140 acres at South Guth Park to the university. The land gift will allow the university to expand its intercollegiate athletics department, research and support space, in addition to offering extra graduate housing options.
“We really started to feel the pressure last fall, with a shortage of both parking and classroom space. This gift of land is critical so we can continue to serve our students,” he says.
Addition of the Mechanical Engineering Program
In 2009, the last remaining hurdles standing in the way of a mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree program at the university were removed. The degree program includes the design and analysis of mechanical systems, including engines, steam turbines and engines.
“We are serving a critical need throughout South Texas,” he says. “It will add a significant dimension to the breadth of research opportunities we can provide for our students and the entire community. We’re giving folks a chance to obtain that degree locally, educate people locally.”
The Harte Research Institute
Since it opened in 2005, the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) has become a nationally-recognized champion of the world’s 10th largest body of water. Created in 2001 through a $46 million endowment from Edward H. Harte, philanthropist and former owner of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, the HRI encourages a trilateral approach with Cuba and Mexico in assuring the long-term ecological and economic sustainability of the Gulf. In the past few years, the HRI has added two endowed chairs and further increased the university’s international prestige.
“The institute has brought issues regarding the health and sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico to the attention of countries around the world,” says Killebrew. “The impact of the research being undertaken at the Harte Research Institute is far-reaching.”
Killebrew acknowledges the university’s future will be demanding due to expected budgetary constraints. However, he’s looking forward to facing the challenge head-on and prefers to focus on the many positive things on the horizon.
“We’ll start construction in the fall on a much-needed $24 million parking garage. The growth we are experiencing is exciting. I’m not going to tell you it won’t come with its fair share of challenges,” he says with a determined smile.
“I’m extremely pleased with the high quality of education we offer our students. Especially when you consider the caliber of cutting-edge research students participate in here at the university. Being the president of the university is a 24-hour, seven day a week job, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
