Mike McKinney, the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University system, announced today that he'll step down as of July 1, 2011.
McKinney became A&M System chancellor in November 2006. Since then, system-wide enrollment in has increased from 103,000 students to almost 120,000 students.
“The 25 million taxpayers in the state of Texas certainly have received a significant return on their investment in the A&M System,” said McKinney in a letter to A&M employees.
McKinney was chief of staff for Governor Rick Perry from 2001-2002. He is also a family physician, former head of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and a former state representative.
Dr. Richard A. Box, Chairman of the Texas A&M Board of Regents released a statement shortly after McKinney announced his resignation.
“We will begin a process to identify the next chancellor of the A&M System in the near future," Box wrote. "Our focus at this time, however, continues to be on the legislative session, working with Chancellor McKinney and our presidents and CEOs to ensure that higher education is adequately funded for the next biennium.”