From its post-Civil War beginnings as a land-grant institution, Texas A&M has become a place where great minds are cultivated, nurtured, and given free rein. It is in that spirit that a center was established on campus to enhance excellence through the exchange of ideas and collaboration with the world's finest scholars, researchers, and industry leaders. That goal, cultivated in large part by the university's Vision 2020 aspirational plan launched in 1997, eventually took shape as the Texas A&M University Hagler Institute for Advanced Study. Building on this enhanced base to continue the momentum toward Vision 2020's first imperative of "elevating the faculty and their teaching, research, and scholarship," the Hagler Institute brings outstanding senior scholars to the Texas A&M campus on a temporary basis. The institute thus enhances research productivity among the faculty and enriches the educational experience for students. These top visiting scholars contribute new research ideas, engage in collaborative research, provide mentoring for younger faculty, and contribute to the development of inspired graduate students. Providing a catalyst for high-quality, innovative research across the multiple disciplines represented in the university, the Hagler Institute continues to enhance the intellectual climate of the university in multiple ways. By affording faculty and students the perspectives of Nobel laureates and winners of various awards from national academies, the Hagler Institute continues to reflect the vision of its founding director, John Junkins, enhancing the academic reputation and innovative leadership of Texas A&M University.