Chiara Watson

As university president, Dr. Emily Messer has exercised a philosophy that places students at the front-and-center of all university policy.

For nearly two years, Dr. Emily Messer has led Texas Wesleyan University into a new era characterized by culture-building, collaborative leadership and community outreach. 

At the beginning of her presidency, President Messer assigned herself the role of pupil as she looked to understand the university, its values and where change needed to be made. By attending classes, student organization meetings and familiarizing herself with those she was serving, Messer was able to inform the change she envisioned. Now equipped with the full picture, President Messer is intent on leaving her mark. 

“My first year here, I really took the time to observe and evaluate where we were as a university,” Messer said. “I’m a firm believer in the saying, ‘sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.’ Now, I’m in speed up mode.” 

Driven by her extensive background in student affairs, President Messer’s philosophy is deeply rooted in maximizing the student experience.  

“Putting students at the forefront of everything we do is an area that I’m really proud of,” Messer said. 

Evidenced by her student-first approach, Messer’s ambition to become a university president stemmed from her own time as a college student.  

“It truly was an aspirational goal of mine since I was in college to become university president,” Messer said. “It’s not just to have the title… it’s to be in a position where I feel like I can truly make a difference.” 

Messer’s empathy and hands-on style work to empower students. These leadership qualities stand as an exemplar to the budding leaders sown throughout the student body. Student Government Association President Jordan Henthorn is a prime example.  

“Putting students first, talking to us, interacting with us and hearing our voice allows the students of TxWes to thrive,” Henthorn said. “I’m happy she has decided that is how she wants to run the university.” 

Messer’s commitment to empathetic leadership extends not only to students, but faculty as well.  

“I hope I’ve been able to let our faculty and staff know that I’m here to support them,” Messer said. “I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today if it weren’t for the outstanding faculty and staff that I worked at with at past institutions.”

Associate professor of English, Dr. Stacia Campbell, attested to Messer’s emphasis on collaboration between faculty and executive staff. Additionally, Campbell, who has worked under three different university presidents during her time at Wesleyan, highlighted Messer’s efforts towards community building throughout the city of Fort Worth. 

“Dr. Messer stands out for her ability to draw different constituencies together for a purpose… her attention to Fort Worth’s connection to our campus, and her dedication to an ethic of care and respect,” Campbell said.  

Messer has made a continued effort to increase Texas Wesleyan’s community involvement and brand awareness. You can often find her attending community events throughout Fort Worth including banquets, business meetings and city council meetings.  

“I’ve been very pleased to hear people in our city saying that they see Texas Wesleyan more than they ever have,” Messer said. “It’s truly an intentionality on my part that I’m trying to be everywhere because I am the figurehead of Texas Wesleyan, so I try to represent our university very well.” 

Always working with students in mind, Messer’s efforts towards community outreach are as much a devotion to TxWes students as it is to the city of Fort Worth.  

“Seventy-two percent of our new students this past fall semester were from Tarrant [County],” Messer said. “We’re serving the students of our county and then producing the workforce because those students stay here, and they work for our local industries, businesses and school systems.” 

Among the most impactful changes implemented by President Messer so far have been outlined by the Engage 2025 Strategic Plan. Developed by her predecessor, former President Fred Slabach, the Engage 2025 Strategic Plan was a five-year blueprint for Texas Wesleyan’s continued success. 

The goals of the plan included improvement facilities, increased total enrollment, improved retention rates and more. For Messer, one particular outcome was the most rewarding—increased graduation rates.  

“The path of growth that I’ve seen in students over the years from the time they start to the time they walk across the stage, I really enjoyed that as a moment of impact, being able as a university president to shake the hand and hand the diploma to every student,” Messer said. “It almost brings tears to my eyes for some of the students that I’ve worked really closely with, even in my short time here.” 

With the Engage 2025 plan wrapped up, President Messer has been hard at work developing a new vision for the university’s future. As expected, Messer wants all hands on deck to steer TxWes towards new horizons.  Messer has called upon the insight and experiences of students, faculty and staff to help develop a new strategic plan that represents the needs of the entire TxWes community.  

“I’ve been at universities where eight people are around the table, and they determine the strategic plan for the university and there’s not a lot of buy in for that,” Messer said. “I’m a firm believer that the more minds around the table, the better ideas you’re going to get.” 

Over the past few months, Messer has conducted strategic planning retreats with the board of trustees and senior staff. Later this month, Messer plans a ‘community day’ for faculty and staff to deliver their ideas for the university’s next steps. Lastly, Messer looks to also hold a community day for student leaders this coming summer so that they can have their say. 

As Messer navigates a path forward, she promises to keep students, faculty and staff set in her sights.