A&M official resigns | Bryan/College Station, Texas

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Published Wednesday, July 02, 2008 6:05 AM

A&M official resigns

By HOLLY HUFFMAN
Eagle Staff Writer

Special to The Eagle

Texas A&M University Vice President for Student Affairs Dean Bresciani abruptly resigned Tuesday after four years in his post, campus officials announced in an e-mail.

The reason for his departure wasn't immediately clear. The e-mail sent from A&M President Elsa Murano said Bresciani had decided to pursue other career opportunities. However, Bresciani indicated to fellow administrators Friday that he had been asked to resign.

Bresciani did not respond to e-mail and phone requests for an interview made by The Eagle on Monday and Tuesday. A&M spokesman Jason Cook said Bresciani was attending a conference in California that had been scheduled prior to his resignation.

Cook referred questions to Murano but said she was traveling Tuesday and could not be reached by phone. She did, however, e-mail a statement announcing the changes and lauding Bresciani for expanding out-of-classroom experiences and laying the foundation for the renovation of the Memorial Student Center.

"Please join me in thanking Dr. Bresciani for his service to Texas A&M and in extending our best wishes in his future endeavors," she said.

Murano announced in the e-mail that Dave Parrott, associate vice president and dean of student life, would serve as a temporary replacement for Bresciani.

She also noted that Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne, commandant of the Corps of Cadets, would report directly to her office. She did not explain why, other than saying she wanted to work with the organization to preserve the traditions and values it embodies.

Van Alstyne previously reported to the vice president for student affairs, according to an organizational chart posted on the Texas A&M University Web site.

"One of the key tenets of Vision 2020, our quest to become one of the top 10 public institutions of higher education in the country, is to enhance the undergraduate and graduate experience here at Texas A&M," Murano said in the e-mail. "I am committed to enriching the academics, traditions and values that combine to make our University a unique, yet unmatched educational experience for all students."

Parrott said he learned Friday that Bresciani was leaving and that he would be temporarily taking his place. Bresciani told Parrott that he had been asked to resign, according to information Parrott relayed to fellow student affairs employees in an e-mail sent Monday.

"This turn of events was certainly not how Dr. Bresciani and I would have intended to spend our Friday evening and weekend," Parrott wrote in the e-mail, which he provided Tuesday to The Eagle. "Nevertheless, we are both professionals and are quite adept at responding to the realities of transitions of power from one administration to the next."

Parrott's e-mail said that division had an obligation to continue to set the standard for excellence in student affairs and urged employees to "stay the course" and continue working as a team throughout the transition.

Parrott said Tuesday that he did not know how long he might serve in the interim but said he planned to work to move the division forward while at the helm. He also released a statement saying that he was deeply honored to serve as interim vice president as the division geared up for the remaining new student conferences and upcoming Fish Camps.

"In this interim period, my goal is to be a good steward of the outstanding student programs, activities and resources -- human and financial -- that help make Texas A&M a unique institution," Parrott said in his written statement, noting that he and others supported Murano's vision for the division.

"All of us wish Dr. Dean Bresciani all the best in his future endeavors. We recognize that while administrators may change, the Aggie Spirit that unites us all continues."

• Holly Huffman's e-mail address is holly.huffman@theeagle.com.

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Comments

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13 comment(s) found!

Posted by: BHL On: 7/20/2008

Comment Title: AGGIE INTEGRITY
WHat happened to Aggie legendary Integrity/honesty, I guess it is no longer expected of this administration. Murano should resign and move on.

Posted by: FGR On: 7/20/2008

Comment Title: wrong is wrong
Dr. Murano is terribly wrong in making these bad decision! She is making ALL good people leave so her friends and buddies can continue to make six figures and have NO accountability, shame on this administration!

Posted by: On: 7/5/2008

Comment Title: what happened to the comments?
there were over 60 comments yesterday - what happened to them?

Posted by: On: 7/3/2008

Comment Title: Great job, Dr. Murano!
This is the most welcome news we have received this Summer! Finally, we rid our university of a mediocre administrator who was known for surrounding himself with yes-men, and for his lack of vision, initiative and, therefore, meaningful accomplishments. Thank you, Dr. Murano, for having the best interests and long-term success of Texas A&M always at heart.

Posted by: Aggie no more On: 7/3/2008

Comment Title: This is pure politics
Everything will become more clear when his replacement is named. The lack of integrity is shameful.

Posted by: Aggie'88'91 On: 7/3/2008

Comment Title: Levels of giving have...
and will continue to fall for this adminstration.

Posted by: Colonel D. USA On: 7/2/2008

Comment Title: Get real people!
Do you mean to tell me that Gates, Bowen and others never re-assigned, fired, or asked key people from previous administrations to re-sign? Is Murano the first one to subscribe to such antics? Get real people...the only reason you are so critical of her is because she is who she is--the first woman and the first minority to be president of TAMU. Any move that she makes, however inconsequential, will be looked upon by the "disgruntled" as an inquisition...no pun here Dr. M. I personally admire her courage. So does the president of the USA, the Sec. of Defense and our number 1 Ag: The Gov--Rick Perry. Stay the course Dr. Murano and gig'em!

Posted by: 23ZYP On: 7/2/2008

Comment Title:
Good Move Dr. Murano! It's about time someone had the moral courage to take back our school. The VP of Student Affairs should be an Aggie - not a senseless bureaucrat that clings to Academia alone as criteria for leadership. Dr. Murano's courage is something that all Aggies should admire -

Posted by: On: 7/2/2008

Comment Title: There goes the neighborhood....
I haven't liked Dr. Murano since it was announced she was to be president. The only reason she was named president was because the BoR was less than pleased that we found a football coach in 2 days but still hadn't found a president after a year. With Lt. Gen. Van Alstyne having to report directly to her, the Corps is screwed. It will become just another college program ROTC and Texas A&M will become just another state school. God help us all!

Posted by: On: 7/2/2008

Comment Title: Great job, Dr. Murano!
This is the most welcome news we have received this Summer! Finally, we rid our university of a mediocre administrator who was known for surrounding himself with yes-men, and for his lack of vision, initiative and, therefore, meaningful accomplishments. Thank you, Dr. Murano, for having the best interests and long-term success of Texas A&M always at heart.

Posted by: Michael On: 7/2/2008

Comment Title: Blech
The more I read about her, the less I like... I hope the BoR comes to their senses soon. I think she is a scandal waiting to happen, and will put A&M in a negative light. I really, really hope this is not true. I just have a bad feeling about her in general. I don't think she gets A&M, I think she wants to drag us into just being "another state university"...

Posted by: On: 7/2/2008

Comment Title:
I knew Murano was not a smart choice. This is a very sad time for A&M.

Posted by: tdb On: 7/2/2008

Comment Title: here we go again
Everyone should take a serious look at just how many people have left A&M since Supreme Commander Elsa Murano began her reign.