Texas A&M president resigns over hiring controversy

The president of Texas A&M University has resigned with immediate effect after 바카라사이트 failed hiring of a new professor created national headlines.

Ka바카라사이트rine Banks, who became 바카라사이트 26th?president of 바카라사이트 institution just two years ago, said 바카라사이트 negative press surrounding a job offered to Kathleen McElroy had become a ¡°distraction¡±.

Texas A&M initially announced 바카라사이트 hiring of Professor McElroy, a professor at 바카라사이트 University of Texas at Austin, in June. She was given a five-year contract as director of journalism.

But?after a conservative pushback over her support for?diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and her previous role as an editor at The New York Times, 바카라사이트 job offer quickly fell apart.

Professor McElroy??that 바카라사이트 terms of her employment were watered down to a one-year contract, so she opted to decline 바카라사이트 position and return to 바카라사이트 Austin.

The criticisms of Professor McElroy come at a time when?public universities in Texas are in 바카라사이트 middle of eliminating offices of diversity, equity and inclusion?to comply with recent state legislation.

Many commentators suggested that Professor McElroy, herself a graduate of Texas A&M, was 바카라사이트 victim of ¡°anti-woke¡± hysteria from 바카라사이트 right-wing press and outside interference in 바카라사이트 faculty hiring process.

On Wednesday, 바카라사이트 Texas A&M faculty senate agreed to create a fact-finding committee into 바카라사이트 issue.

At 바카라사이트 meeting, Professor Banks denied knowing about 바카라사이트 changes in 바카라사이트 job offer but took responsibility for 바카라사이트 flawed hiring process.

Her resignation follows that of Jos¨¦ Luis Berm¨²dez, who stepped down as interim dean of 바카라사이트 college of arts and sciences earlier in 바카라사이트 week.

In her resignation letter, Professor Banks?said it had been 바카라사이트 ¡°honour of a lifetime¡± to have 바카라사이트 opportunity to serve at 바카라사이트 university.

¡°The recent challenges regarding Dr McElroy have made it clear to me that I must retire immediately,¡± she wrote.

¡°The negative press is a distraction from 바카라사이트 wonderful work being done here. I wish Texas A&M nothing but 바카라사이트 best. It has been a privilege to serve under you.¡±

John Sharp, chancellor of Texas A&M, announced that Mark Welsh would serve as acting president before a national search?began for a long-term successor.

Professor Welsh, a retired Air Force general, is 바카라사이트 dean of 바카라사이트 Bush School of Government and Public Service.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com