A&M president resigns a day before regents were to meet about job; had received poor review

A&M president resigns before regents meeting

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The president of Texas A&M has resigned — the day before a meeting of school regents to discuss her job.

Elsa Murano, the school’s first female and first Hispanic president, announced her resignation in a statement Sunday. The resignation is effective Monday, the day regents were scheduled to discuss the university’s leadership.

Earlier this month, the university released a scathing performance review of Murano’s first full year on the job. She received low marks for leadership and management.

Murano was an A&M administrator when she was chosen for the presidency in January 2008. She succeeded Robert Gates, who left to become U.S. secretary of defense.

Murano said in her statement she was doing what she believed was best for the university and hoped to return to the faculty.