Texas A&M-Fort Worth Leader to Join Pace University
The departure of a key innovation campus architect may affect the timeline for local project partners and regional contractors.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in People
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Bobby Ahdieh, who has served as the chief operating officer of Texas A&M-Fort Worth since 2018, will step down to become the president of Pace University starting Jan. 1. During his tenure in Fort Worth, Ahdieh played a key role in the development of a proposed $1 billion innovation campus.
Why it matters
Ahdieh’s departure comes as Fort Worth moves forward with a $1 billion innovation campus project intended to generate 25,000 jobs. His track record of scaling enrollment and fundraising is central to how local businesses evaluate the momentum of the city's academic-led economic development initiatives.
During Ahdieh's leadership, Texas A&M’s law school enrollment grew from 458 to more than 2,000 students while annual fundraising quadrupled. The planned Fort Worth innovation campus remains a major project with a $1 billion price tag and a target of 25,000 total jobs created.
The players
Bobby Ahdieh
An academic administrator who led the growth of Texas A&M’s law school and the planning for a billion-dollar innovation campus.
Pace University
A private university with 13,600 students operating campuses in New York City and Westchester County.
Marvin Krislov
The outgoing president of Pace University whom Ahdieh is scheduled to succeed.
The details
Ahdieh served as the leader of the Texas A&M law school since 2018, where he collaborated closely with Tarrant County and city officials to drive growth. His work focused on institutional expansion and the facilitation of large-scale infrastructure projects. He now moves to lead Pace University, an institution with approximately 13,600 students across its New York City and Westchester County campuses.
Timeline
2018: Ahdieh began leading the Texas A&M law school.
October 20, 2026: Pace University announced the appointment.
January 1, 2027: Ahdieh begins his role as Pace University president.
Market Landscape
This leadership transition occurs as Fort Worth advances the $1 billion innovation campus project designed to generate 25,000 jobs. The move marks a change in the executive oversight of a project that is projected to bring $3 billion in annual economic activity to the area.
Operators involved in the regional innovation ecosystem should monitor for an interim leadership announcement regarding the Texas A&M innovation campus. Ensure your firm’s procurement or partnership strategy accounts for potential shifts in campus project timelines as the administration transitions.
The takeaway
Large-scale urban development projects rely heavily on the institutional memory and relationships of their primary architects. Business owners should track the successor’s approach to the $1 billion campus timeline to anticipate potential changes in construction and service procurement schedules.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local executive leadership, see People.
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