Texas A&M University said Friday that its president will retire “immediately” after a political fallout from the new director of the journalism program because of his work promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
President, M. Katherine Banks submitted her letter of retirement late Thursday, the university said in a statement. This announcement came just days after the school’s faculty senate passed a decision to create a fact-finding committee to look into the “mishandling” of the hiring of Kathleen McElroy, a professor at the University of Texas and a former editor at the New York Times.
Within weeks of the initial offer, the deal began to take shape. At least one Texas A&M alumni group, the Rudder Association, said it filed a complaint against Dr. McElroy’s hiring because of his advocacy work. Dr. McElroy told The Times that the terms of his employment were revised to give him a one-year contract. He chose to return to his position at the University of Texas.
The Texas Tribune first reported the controversy.
This is a growing story. Check back for updates.
| Daily News Post