Who is Melissa McCoul? Texas A&M Professor Fired After Gender Ideology Clash

Texas A&M University has dismissed English professor Melissa McCoul after a viral classroom incident where she removed a student for objecting to course content on gender and sexuality. The controversy arose during a children’s literature class, which some claimed promoted “leftist gender ideas.” Texas Republican Rep. Brian Harrison shared clips of the confrontation, sparking a statewide debate.

University President Mark Welsh confirmed the firing in a statement, saying, “This afternoon, following full consideration of the facts related to this situation, I directed the Provost to terminate the professor involved, effective immediately.” He added that course content must strictly align with published catalog descriptions, warning that deviation “breaks trust with our students and with the state of Texas.”

Welsh further explained that a summer course included inappropriate material not consistent with its catalog, and despite directives to prevent recurrence, another fall class repeated the issue. “Our students use the published information in the course catalog to make important decisions about the courses they take… we must keep faith with our students,” he stated.

According to the university’s website, McCoul is a senior lecturer specializing in Composition and Rhetoric, British Literature, Gender Studies, and Children’s Literature. She holds degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Notre Dame.

Slides from her course reportedly encouraged students to “think critically” about children’s literature, focusing on sex, gender, and “queerness.” When challenged, McCoul defended her teaching, telling the student, “Because I do have the legal and ethical authority [and] professional expertise in this classroom, it’s time for you to leave.”

The dismissal followed pressure from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who wrote, “Good. Now, fire the professor who acted contrary to Texas law.”