Investiture

Christian E. Hardigree has served as an educator and an administrative leader for almost 30 years. Named as the president of Texas A&M University-Victoria in October of 2025, she stepped in to lead the institution, which is the 12th and most recent addition to The Texas A&M University System.

Hardigree previously served as regional chancellor of USF St. Petersburg; the founding dean of the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver; and was also the founding director and professor at the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.  Prior to that, she spent 15 years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in a variety of faculty and administrative roles. She was also a trial attorney in Las Vegas, defending hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs in litigation.

A researcher and frequent conference presenter, Hardigree received her juris doctorate from Mercer University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Harrah College of Hospitality at University of Nevada Las Vegas. She completed the Yale Global Executive Leadership program at Yale University. She was also a 2024 Fulbright Scholar for the US/France International Education Administrators Program.