Dr. James Gaertner was installed as the new president of Sam Houston State University at an investiture ceremony held at the Bernard Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville. A 1965 graduate of Sam Houston State, Dr. Gaertner replaces Dr. Bobby Marks to become the 12th president of the university in its 122 years of existence.
Dr. Marks retired after 41 years of service to the university, with the last six years as its president.
SHSU was founded in 1879 as Sam Houston Normal Institute as a two-year school to train teachers and educators.
Dr. Gaertner was selected for his present position from over 80 applicants. He comes to Sam Houston State highly qualified after administrative posts at Notre Dame University and most recently as Dean of the School of Business at the University of Texas – San Antonio.
A native of Yoakum, Texas, he received his bachelors and masters degrees from Sam Houston State. He earned his doctoral degree from Texas A&M University. He is also a certified public accountant and worked in private business for several years.
As an undergraduate, Dr. Gaertner was a student leader on the Sam Houston State campus and a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
