Texas A&M reaches $1M settlement with Black professor over botched hiring amid conservative backlash

Texas A&M apologized and admitted mistakes were made during the hiring process of journalism professor Kathleen McElroy.
McElroy's initial faculty job offer with tenure was reduced multiple times due to concerns about her past diversity work.
McElroy rejected the diminished offer and withdrew her resignation from UT-Austin, where she retains her tenured position.
The controversy resulted in the resignation of Texas A&M's president and raised questions about political influences on campus free speech.
The $1 million settlement from Texas A&M aims to make amends for the mishandling of McElroy's hiring.