About 40 years ago when my family lived in the tiny town of Kirby, Texas USA, a large group of kids who lived on our street became friends.  We hung out, played sandlot baseball, and we shared in many wonderful adventures.  It was the epitome of small town America.  The memories that we made were priceless. 

We finished high school and went our separate ways to college, to start jobs and to find what our futures would hold for us. 

Now fast forward about 10 years.  My husband and I had moved to Brenham.  We were walking through Post Oak Mall in College Station when someone called out my name---my maiden name! 

It was my friend from the old neighborhood and as we visited, I learned that he had earned his Undergraduate, Masters and Doctorate degrees from Texas A&M, all in Electrical Engineering and he was now a Professor. 

The years passed and the next time that we would meet would be at an Aggie Mom's Federation Meeting when our daughter, Jennifer, was a freshman at Texas A&M and my friend was now an administrator.   Mark was very actively involved in his department.  He has earned many honors during his tenure at Texas A&M, including Associate Department Head, Distinguished Speaker Committee, numerous Outstanding Professor Awards, Excellence in Engineering teaching awards, and many, many more.

He has always put his students first and had made graduate research education an integral part of his own research projects and has chaired the committees of more than 30 Masters students and 10 Doctoral students. 

He is a Registered Professional Engineer and has authored more than 80 articles, papers, and scientific reports and holds three patents and has two more pending regarding integrated circuit device design and fabrication.

Mark served as Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Provost for Academic Services.  In this capacity, he oversaw the offices of the Honors Program and Academic Scholarships, the Career Center, General Academics, and the Student Learning Center. 

Always known for having shoulders that could carry any heavy load, literally or figuratively, he once carried a student’s refrigerator to the top floor of a north side dorm, earning him the nickname of “Refrigerator.”  

In September of 2006, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents confirmed his appointment as Dean and CEO of Texas A&M University at Qatar, upon the recommendation of Dr. Gates.  He played a key role in the negotiations and planning of the Qatar Campus that led to the opening of the Campus in 2003. 

He was installed as the Dean and CEO, the Chief Executive Officer of the Branch Campus, on March 18 and provides it with intellectual and administrative leadership, coordinating faculty, academic programs, financial management, and external relations with the Qatar Foundation and the United States Ambassador to Qatar. 

In a recent edition of the Texas Aggie Magazine, one admirer said that he epitomizes the noble characteristics of a genuine leader and mentor and adds to the allure and stature of our University.  It is with much pride and gratitude for what he has done for our students and University that I dedicate the 2007-08 Federation Yearbook to Dr. Mark Weichold.