Texas State President Damphousse, known by his social media handle “K Damp” among students, is taking pictures with students at the tailgate for the second home football game. Slowly, a line starts to form, but Damphousse never rushes the moment. With each student, he pauses, asks questions, and listens closely to make sure they feel seen and heard. His goal is simple: to be more than a name. He wants students to know him.
President Damphousse shares a friendly handshake with game-day staff and law enforcement, showing appreciation for their support. 
President Damphousse takes in the sights and sounds of Bobcat pride at the bustling pregame tailgate. 
Even though a long line was forming behind him, President Damphousse took his time with every student making sure they felt seen and heard 
President Damphousse greets Boko the Bobcat during Texas State’s spirited tailgate before kickoff. 
President Damphousse poses with students at the tailgate, celebrating the vibrant Bobcat community. 
President Damphousse joins a family for a photo, spreading Texas State pride and excitement during family weekend at Texas State 
President Damphousse takes a moment to recognize the donors whose generosity helps drive Texas State’s success. 
President Kelly Damphousse and First Lady Beth Damphousse enjoy game day on the field, cheering on the Bobcats with true maroon and gold pride! 
President Kelly Damphousse meets one of the smallest, and cutest, members of Bobcat Nation! 
President Damphousse is never too busy for a selfie! 
President Kelly Damphousse shows his support from the sidelines, celebrating a touchdown! 
Picture-perfect Bobcat spirit! Fans grabs a selfie with President Kelly Damphousse at the student tailgate 
President Damphousse having a chat with students under the hot Texas sun
“I’m just trying to create relationships with people so that when, if they ever face a challenge, they say, Oh, I know someone who cares about me,” says Damphousse.
As Damphousse walks around the tailgate, he is greeted by surprised smiles and double takes. It is not common for a president to be so deeply involved in the student experience, much less to show up at every tailgate to spend time with the crowd. During the football games, Damphousse often trades the Presidential Suite for the student section.
“I want them to know who I am so they know they’ve got someone who can answer whatever problems they’re facing, and I want to understand the students’ experiences,” Damphousse says.
“Plus, I just think they are fun.”
He also hopes it will increase student attendance at football games, which has been one of his strategic initiatives. Together with football head coach G.J. Kinne and athletic director Don Coryell, President Damphousse’s efforts have allowed the football program to reach new heights.
When President Damphousse was named the tenth president of Texas State, he was tasked with raising national awareness of the university, which he believed could be achieved partly through success on the football field. His vision proved correct.
Texas State is in the midst of its best reputation run so far, putting the university in the national spotlight. From Sept. 2024 to July 2025, the university generated more than 8 billion impressions online. This fall, San Marcos and Round Rock welcomed the largest freshman class of Bobcats on record, and, according to President Damphousse, enrollment is projected to reach 50,000 students by next year, a milestone originally set for 2030. The university has also expanded its graduate and doctoral offerings, putting Texas State on track to become an R1 institution in the next couple of years.
Dr. Oskam, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University, has noticed a change of pace on the academic side since President Damphousse took office. According to Oskam, there has been a clear emphasis on evolving the master’s and doctorate programs.
“The fact that 11 Ph.D. programs went forward shows that he understands that the world moves really fast and academia needs to keep pace, and he has helped us keep that pace in a way that doesn’t happen on most campuses,” Oskam says.
“I think we are in a magic time here at Texas State. I am just so excited about being here right now,” Oskam adds.
Even though Damphousse celebrated the current progress at Texas State, he insists he’ll never be fully satisfied. His eyes are already on the next milestones. Texas State is currently ranked 20th for higher education, and President Damphousse believes a top 10 ranking is within reach, a goal that would require the student body to grow to 55,000 students. At the same time, Damphousse is careful not to diminish the importance of those who have already made Texas State their home away from home.
“A record number of students is good, but a record number of graduates is more important. COVID really hurt us because we lost a lot of students in 2020, so we’re trying to catch up to that,” Damphousse says.
Yet Damphousse’s greatest impact isn’t measured by the numbers. It’s felt in students’ everyday lives. Damphousse is a familiar face at move-in days, tailgates, athletic events, and countless student activities. His presence extends across campus, where students enjoy sharing their stories with him. Kelsey Lincoln, a senior at Texas State, has enjoyed seeing President Damphousse’s continuous support in students’ lives and says it is important that he connects with them personally.
“I really couldn’t explain much about how he actually does his job, but you can tell from his social media posts that he does care about students and joins in on all the events,” Lincoln says.
Damphousse leaves many students wondering how he manages it all. He shows up at student events, stays active on social media, handles his official duties as president, and still finds time for sleep. According to President Damphousse, there is no secret sauce—just stamina and willpower to keep him running around campus, literally. Though he admits he is naturally introverted and would prefer to watch football games from the comfort of his home, he feels it is his responsibility to attend as many events as possible.
“I don’t think I am important, but what I do is important,” says President Damphousse.
Damphousse believes effective use of social media can make a large campus feel smaller and more connected. He often reminds students and faculty that the university is defined by its people, not its buildings.
Many might assume he spends his nights preoccupied with enrollment numbers and data, but his thoughts are elsewhere. He admits to losing sleep over the students and faculty of Texas State. Since assuming the role in April 2022, Texas State has mourned the loss of about 20 students. It is their absence, and the wellbeing of those on campus, that keeps him up at night.
“We are such an open institution, and it is a dangerous world. The thing that keeps me up at night is worrying about the safety of the university and the physical safety of our students,” he says.
He also sees social media as a multi-tool. Sometimes he uses it to communicate important information; other times he might use it to talk about student experiences or to raise national awareness of Texas State. What he enjoys most, though, is using social platforms to encourage students and celebrate their successes.
“So much of social media is intended to make you feel bad about yourself, so I’ve always felt it was my job to try to make people’s lives better, not make it worse,” Damphousse says.
It is in moments like these, squeezed between students in maroon and gold, that “K Damp” shows what leadership looks like at Texas State: not from a distance, but right there in the stands, reminding every student that their president knows them, sees them, and is cheering for them.
