In October 2005, Gov. Rick Perry appointed Ida "Weisie" Clement Steen of San Antonio to the A&M System Board of Regents. Steen, a former teacher and school administrator, is a director of Frost Bank and its parent company, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
Here, Regent Steen shares her thoughts on her new role and the A&M System.
Ida "Weisie" Clement
Steen
Systemwide: What was your initial reaction to this appointment?
Steen: I was very surprised when Governor Perry called me. Knowing how strongly he feels about all things related to A&M, I felt honored that he would entrust me with this responsibility. And by the way, my State Senator, Jeff Wentworth, is also an ardent Aggie, and his immediate support and encouragement meant a lot to me.
What are you most looking forward to as a regent?
I want to make sure that the Board of Regents continues to attract and retain superb A&M System leadership while building excellence in our nine universities, seven state agencies and health science center.
You bring a wealth of experience from both the education and business worlds. How do you think this experience will help you in your role as a regent?
My background as a teacher reinforces what I feel in my heart as the mother of three children: that there is nothing more important to the future of our state than ensuring that we continue to provide high quality, affordable, accessible higher education.
And, because the A&M System is big business, I hope to bring to the table whatever investment acumen I've acquired over the years.
What you didn't mention is my background in agriculture. I grew up on a South Texas ranch, and my family has continuously ranched our land for six generations. I'm going to take a particular interest in the A&M System’s agricultural programs and services.
What has made the biggest impression on you so far about the A&M System?
Just how many facets there are to it. For example, I was fascinated to learn that the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has cloned a horse and that the horse was the sixth species to be cloned by A&M, the most of any university in the world.
Or that the Texas Engineering Extension Service trains emergency responders at its Disaster City, and that following the London terrorist attack last summer, the head of the London Fire Brigade told CNN that his firefighters benefited from their training at Texas A&M.
These are but two examples of the way that our institutions are impacting the world. I'm so excited to be a part of it.
You are known for your involvement in numerous philanthropic and charitable organizations in San Antonio, including the Santa Rose Children’s Hospital Endowment fund, the Charity Ball Association, the San Antonio Academy and the Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital Foundation. Why do you think it’s important to give back to the community?
My parents were wonderful role models. They were always involved in civic and charitable activities so I grew up with the deep-seated belief that you must give back. It's ingrained in me. I wouldn't know any other way.
Your husband, John Steen, Jr., has been a trustee of both the Alamo Community College District and Austin College. Has he given you any advice about being a regent?
Yes: always strive for excellence.
You are a graduate of Trinity University and your husband is a graduate of Princeton and the University of Texas Law School. What have your impressions of the A&M System been over the years?
I am a proud alumna of Trinity, but when I was growing up near Kingsville, Texas A&I (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) was my university. I have happy childhood memories of attending A&I football games with my father, Jim Clement, who was a staunch supporter of the school.
My family continues to be involved with Texas A&M-Kingsville. We gave a rehabilitation and training center in memory of my father [James Higbie Clement].
In 2003 the King Ranch celebrated its 150th anniversary, and to commemorate this milestone, we created and helped fund the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management as part of Texas A&M-Kingsville’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences. [Steen’s brother, James H. Clement, Jr., is chairman of King Ranch. Also, see the feature about the Institute in this issue of Systemwide.]
We hope that the King Ranch Institute will become the world's preeminent resource for highly trained ranch managers and innovative ranching information. Annually it's going to serve hundreds of ranchers and students through its classes, lectures and symposia.
So, you see, even prior to my appointment as a regent, I already had a place in my heart for the A&M System.
How did you get the nickname Weisie?
Like my mother and daughter, my given name is Ida Louise. My mother nicknamed me "Iweez." I was raised by the kinenos on the ranch, and they called me "Weisie" and the name stuck.
Tell us about your three children.
John, a Vanderbilt graduate, lives in Houston and works for Atlantic Trust, a private wealth management firm. Ida Louise or "Illa" is a Vanderbilt senior majoring in art history. Son Jamey is a high school junior at Saint Mary's Hall. I’m about a year and a half away from the "empty nest," and I look forward to filling less-busy days by devoting even more time to the betterment of the A&M System!