Porter Garner ’79 announces he will retire Dec. 31

Porter Garner ’79 announced Saturday that he will retire Dec. 31, 2026, after 27 years as President and CEO of The Association of Former Students. His retirement will cap a career spanning five decades and marked by visionary, transformational leadership and an enduring impact on Texas A&M and Texas Aggies.

Porter shared his retirement plans with The Association’s Leadership Council, the organization’s governing body, at its biannual meeting at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, noting that the decision followed thoughtful consideration and a desire to ensure a strong and well-prepared transition for The Association.

"For this Texas Aggie, there has been no more gratifying opportunity or role or experience that I've ever had in my life, professionally, than to serve this organization as President and CEO," Garner said. "And I thank each and every one of you for all of that."

Under Porter’s leadership as President and CEO, The Association of Former Students raised over $572 million to support scholarships, student organizations, traditions, faculty and staff excellence, career services, former student engagement and more. His tenure in this position corresponded with accelerated growth in Texas A&M’s enrollment and stature, as nearly 60 percent of all Texas A&M former students belong to the Class of 2000 or later. The Association distributed more than 310,000 Aggie Rings to eligible students and former students during Porter’s tenure.

Shara McClure ’90, the 2026 Chair of The Association’s Board of Directors, said Garner’s tangible and lasting impact is evident across the Texas A&M campus.

“Every single Aggie, every single person who steps foot on this campus, sees and feels the impact he has made, even if they do not know to attribute it to him,” McClure said in her remarks to the Leadership Council. “The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, and Texas Aggies are all immensely grateful and deeply indebted to Porter for his 45 years of selfless service and visionary leadership.”

As one of his first priorities as the chief executive, Porter led The Association’s first-ever branding initiative, creating a unified and recognizable identity for The Association and building a culture of professional team service to support that brand. The Association greatly enhanced its programs and services during his tenure, and Porter’s vision led to the creation of signature events and programs including Aggie Ring Day, Aggie Ring Remembrance, the Distinguished Alumni Gala and the Worldwide Muster Roll Call, as well as the development of Aggie Park, the premier green space on the Texas A&M campus.

Jeff Steen ’80, Immediate Past Chair of The Association’s Board of Directors, said Porter has been an exceptional connector of people,

Porter was presented with a lifetime membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi in 2019 and was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Mays Business School in 2022. He is one of only four Aggies to have been honored with a lifetime membership in the Brazos County A&M Club. In 2023, the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association announced their selection of Porter, a native of Laredo, Texas, as the 2024 Mr. South Texas.

Porter’s devoted marriage to Lisa ’91 has been an essential partnership, anchoring his personal life and enabling his extraordinary career of service to the Aggie Network. They are Endowed Century Club donors to The Association of Former Students, Eppright Distinguished Donors and members of the Texas A&M Legacy Society. Together, they built a family rooted in Aggie values, raising Claire ’21, Callie ’23, and Porter IV ’26.

John Dickerson ’87, the Chair Elect of The Association’s Board and a member of its Executive Committee alongside McClure and Steen, praised Porter’s leadership and his commitment to prioritizing The Association’s staff.

“For 27 years, Porter has never wavered in his belief that The Association’s greatest asset is its people,” Dickerson said. “His strategic and proactive efforts to identify, recruit and develop internal talent, along with the culture he championed, are the foundations of The Association’s exceptional accomplishments during his tenure as CEO.”

Following Porter’s announcement, McClure announced that the Board of Directors had unanimously selected Nic Taunton ’07, The Association’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as the next President and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

“Nic possesses the vision, integrity and dedication needed to lead The Association of Former Students,” McClure said. “His demonstrated and experienced leadership skills position The Association to seamlessly continue its work as the most prominent and powerful resource for Texas A&M and Texas Aggies.”

Taunton joined The Association of Former Students as Director of Development in 2014 and joined the organization’s executive leadership team in 2016 as Vice President of Development. In 2023, he became The Association’s first Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, leading the organization’s day-to-day operations.

Taunton earned a BBA in finance in 2007 from Texas A&M, where he served as student body president. After graduation, he worked as a volunteer consultant in Rwanda before earning a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 2011. He began his career practicing commercial litigation as an associate with Norton Rose Fulbright. 

“The Board has supreme confidence in Nic’s ability to carry The Association’s noble mission even further in 2027 and beyond,” McClure said. “The future of the Aggie Network is as bright as ever under his leadership.”

The Association of Former Students, established in 1879, is the official alumni organization of Texas A&M University. The Association connects hundreds of thousands of members of the worldwide Aggie Network with each other and the university, and provided $16.1 million in impact to university scholarships, awards, traditions and student activities and recognition for students, faculty, staff and former students in 2025.