Dr. Robert R. Furgason served as president of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi from 1990 to 2004 and was instrumental in elevating the level of design on the campus. His vision for a leading university led to the school achieving $250 million in funding for numerous capital improvement and development projects, including the Performing Arts Center, University Student Center, and Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. He also focused on creating and developing research programs exclusive to the coastal environment and leading-edge technology. Those programs, among others, work to enhance the quality of life for the Coastal Bend and promote Corpus Christi as a center for research. Following his tenure as TAMUCC president, Furgason served as the first director of the Hart Research Institute.