Associate dean continues family legacy by advancing TXST’s Run to R1 Initiative

M. Clay Green, Ph.D., associate dean for Strategic Initiatives and Research in The Graduate College and professor in the Department of Biology, is centrally involved in Texas State University’s Run to R1 initiative — a key component of President Kelly Damphousse’s vision outlined in Hopes and Aspirations High. Green’s work in The Graduate College and on the president’s commission on the Run to R1 is instrumental in the university's mission to achieve R1 status, designating TXST as a top-tier research university.

Green is leading efforts in The Graduate College that include the onboarding and support of newly approved doctoral programs and addressing the needs of current doctoral students, particularly with students holding Run to R1 assistantships. In collaboration with the commission and with doctoral program directors on campus, Green designed the specifics of TXST’s first dissertation completion fellowships, which allow students to focus solely on their dissertation research while being fully funded.

He also has organized workshops for graduate faculty, program directors, and doctoral students. This work is designed to provide resources for faculty and students for timely degree completion and for TXST to graduate more than the minimum number of research doctoral students required for R1 status.

“Dr. Green’s leadership in advancing the Run to R1 initiative is invaluable,” said Andrea Golato, Ph.D., dean of The Graduate College. “His efforts to support our doctoral students and enhance faculty development are crucial to our continued growth and success.”

Green’s dedication to higher education runs deep, as he continues a long-standing family legacy at TXST.

His grandmother, Lenora Giesen, earned both her bachelor’s in 1937 and master’s degrees in education in 1952 from Southwest Texas State Teachers College, while his mother, Bettie Green, graduated with her bachelor’s degree in home economics from SWT State College in 1962. Green’s wife, Michele Green, also earned her doctorate in physical therapy from TXST in 2017. Green’s eldest son, Matthew Salter, is currently a sophomore pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at TXST.

Adding to this rich family history, Green’s great-great-grandfather, Ed J. L. Green (1841–1924), had a significant connection to the university.

A former mayor of San Marcos, Ed served as a member of the university’s first board of trustees, appointed by Governor Sayers shortly after the institution’s founding. Ed later became the president of the board of trustees, further cementing his legacy within the university’s history.

In addition to his administrative work, Green has significantly contributed to the university as an educator and mentor. He has served on seven Ph.D. committees and has advised three doctoral students who have successfully graduated, with three additional students currently under his mentorship.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been watching graduate students transform from newcomers into professionals,” said Green. “To see them go on to lead in governmental and non-governmental agencies, in academia, and in the community is incredibly fulfilling.”

Green is committed to ensuring the sustainability of TXST’s future R1 status. As a member of the commission, he will continue to work on initiatives that will bolster graduate student funding, increase professional development and mentoring opportunities, and expand the number of doctoral programs.

“We are well on our way to achieving R1 status, so now we want to develop initiatives to sustain our R1 status once it is achieved,” he said.

With Green’s leadership and continued dedication to advancing graduate education, TXST is poised to achieve — and sustain — its goal of becoming an R1 institution, strengthening its place as a center of academic excellence and research innovation.