Response to Dr. Ruth Simmons’ Resignation
When Presidents in The Texas A&M University System announce they are leaving, they cannot hire senior staff or Deans except on an interim basis, so that the new President can choose the leadership team he or she will be working with during their term.
This decade-long policy applies to all of our Presidents.
It should be noted that we afforded the same courtesy to Dr. Simmons when George Wright announced his retirement as President of Prairie View A&M University.
We simply believe new Presidents should be able to choose their top staff. As an example, Mike Young announced his retirement over a year before he left Texas A&M University, and he could not hire a Dean or top staff except on an interim basis. That allowed the new president, Kathy Banks, to fill those slots.
I informed Dr. Simmons that we will not make exceptions to this policy and she chose to resign. I am sorry she chose this path, but I am forever grateful for her service at Prairie View A&M University and look forward to even greater things in the future.
Dr. Tomikia LeGrande will assume her duties as President on June 1, as previously planned.
Chancellor John Sharp