Report: M. Katherine Banks has resigned as President of Texas A&M University
On Friday morning, it was announced that M. Katherine Banks had resigned as President of Texas A&M University just over two years after assuming the role.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of Kathleen O. McElroy walking away from her position as Director of Texas A&M’s journalism department, after being hired for the position back in June. Banks had met with the Texas A&M Faculty Senate earlier in the week to discuss the circumstances of McElroy walking away from her role, and in her resignation letter, she made it clear the handling of the situation was at the forefront of her decision to resign.
Banks was Texas A&M’s Dean of the College of Engineering before taking over as president on June 1, 2021.
Her resignation letter was shared in a press release from the Texas A&M University System:
“Chancellor,
First, thank you for the opportunity to serve at this wonderful university. It has been an honor of a lifetime.
The recent challenges regarding Dr. McElroy have made it clear to me that I must retire immediately. The negative press is a distraction from the wonderful work being done here.
I wish Texas A&M nothing but the best. It has been a privilege to serve under you.
Kathy”
Chancellor Sharp has named Dean Mark A. Welsh III acting President of @TAMU after President M. Katherine Banks submitted a letter late Thursday announcing she would retire immediately: https://t.co/Kib0Dkfg4E pic.twitter.com/HHQoi9S3F7
— Texas A&M System (@tamusystem) July 21, 2023
Chancellor John Sharp announced that General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III will serve as Texas A&M University’s Interim President. He had previously been the Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service since August 2016. Welsh becomes the eighth Texas A&M President in either a full-time or interim capacity.
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