Ross resigns from A&M-Central Texas Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 14 2009 05:52 AM By Rebecca LaFlure
Killeen Daily Herald

Texas A&M University-Central Texas has begun its search for a new leader after Interim President Garry Ross resigned unexpectedly Friday morning.

Ross released a statement Friday, citing his health as the reason for his resignation. He will continue to serve as a faculty member in the Division of Arts and Sciences.

Ross, who served as executive director and interim president of A&M-Central Texas since January 2008, played a key role in the university's transition from Tarleton State University-Central Texas to A&M-Central Texas.

"I have greatly enjoyed serving A&M-Central Texas during such an exciting transition. … To make that dream come to fruition, as A&M-Central Texas, has been the experience of a lifetime," Ross said in a statement Friday. "I look forward to the opportunity to continue that experience as a faculty member."

Ross' resignation is effective immediately.

Frank Ashley, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the Texas A&M System, said he plans to meet with faculty, staff and administrators Monday to form a presidential search committee.

He hopes to present a list of finalists to the A&M System board of regents by March, he said. In the meantime, A&M System officials are still figuring out who will temporarily replace Ross.

"We are still discussing his replacement right now. By Monday we hope to have answers to some of those questions," Ashley said.

Tarleton-Central Texas officially transitioned into A&M-Central Texas in May.

Prior to his appointment in Killeen, Ross served as deputy vice provost at the University of North Texas Dallas campus.

John Crutchfield, president of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce where Ross serves as a board member, said Ross was a team player with an incredible knowledge of how to build an institution.

"He's not worried about who's going to get credit, just about how to get the job done," Crutchfield said. "We collaborated with him on the university and built relationships with Fort Hood and the community colleges. He'll be hard to replace."

State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, worked alongside Ross to help bring an independent A&M campus to Central Texas.

"He has brought us long way in the progression as a full-standing university," Aycock said after he had lunch with Ross Friday. "I'll be forever grateful for that."

Contact Rebecca LaFlure at rlaflure@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7548.