COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Dr. Elsa A. Murano resigned as president of Texas A&M University effective June 15. Dr. Murano’s resignation and the plans for her transition back into the faculty were to be addressed by the board at its June 15 meeting.

Prior to being elected president in January 2008, she served as the vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences from 2005–2007 and as the U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture for Food Safety from 2001–2004.

"This deep and abiding passion for what the university represents, and for the people of the Aggie family, reinforces my duty to do what is best for Texas A&M," she explained in a statement. "For this reason, I will be resigning as president of our beloved university, effective June 15, 2009, to return to the faculty, subject to approval by the Board of Regents."

"We look forward to having Dr. Murano rejoin our faculty and continue her nationally recognized work in food science," said Michael D. McKinney, M.D., chancellor of the A&M System.

"Dr. Murano has served the university with distinction over the course of her career" added Morris E. Foster, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. "I want to thank her for her service and commitment to the betterment of the university, its faculty and its students."