Texas State University – Bret Bryon

Summary

In early February 2026, Bret Bryon, a lecturer in the Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies at Texas State University, was removed from teaching duties after explicit messages he had sent on social media became public. A Facebook message he sent on February 2 to a plastic and reconstructive surgeon included derogatory language and stated, “I hope Kristi Noem deports you.” The message was shared publicly on social media and tagged the university, prompting the administration to say it was reviewing the matter and would take appropriate action. The university confirmed that Bryon was no longer assigned to teach classes but did not clarify whether he had resigned or been terminated.

By February 5, additional details emerged showing that the messages included expletives and insulting language. Bryon’s faculty profile had been removed from the university website, and the university confirmed that he was not teaching. The messages were described as explicit and offensive, targeting the recipient personally. Reports noted that Bryon had sent multiple messages, and some included additional derogatory statements. The university emphasized that it had taken action in response to the situation, though it did not provide further information on the outcome of any internal review.

On February 6, the messages and the university’s response drew wider attention. The sharing of the posts prompted discussion about accountability, and Bryon was reported to no longer be working at the university. The messages included statements such as “I hope Kristi Noem deports you,” and the recipient’s decision to post the messages publicly brought the situation to a broader audience. The Texas State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors issued a statement on February 10 emphasizing that faculty should receive written notice of allegations and an opportunity for a formal hearing before disciplinary actions. The statement noted that speech made outside the classroom as a private citizen generally should not be grounds for termination absent clear evidence of unfitness to serve and highlighted the importance of due process and academic freedom in cases involving faculty speech.