Issue date: 6/15/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Gail Hernandez [Click to enlarge]

Who is Mike McKinney, M.D.? Up until last week I'm not certain if many people around Aggieland could answer that question. Today we know him as a former practicing medical doctor turned state representative turned medical lobbyist executive turned Governor Rick Perry's Chief of Staff turned University of Texas System Administrator turned Texas A&M Chancellor.

"Chancellor" is still his official title, but recently conversation has sprouted about the possibility that his illustrious career might once again take a step up, by the merger of his current position with that of the presidency of our hallowed University. All in the name of cost effectiveness, of course.

So who is Mike McKinney, M.D.? Apparently he's the boss. Not only does Dr. Murano report directly to him, but so does every other president within the Texas A&M System.

McKinney's recent comments to the media show his unyielding dedication to his position. He has told the Bryan College Station Eagle that he doesn't need to consult committees in order to do his job. He claims that's why he was chosen as Chancellor - so that he could make all the big decisions.

As administrator of the A&M System, one of his perks, in addition to his reported salary of $533,000, is his ability to evaluate our president - which he did this February. The scores that he gave President Elsa Murano have been widely reported largely due to the poor performance he credits to her.

The document is astonishingly childish in appearance with check boxes and illegible, handwritten scribble - hardly the type of report that one would expect to depict the performance of an individual of such vast importance as the president of the A&M System's flagship university.

Doug Slack, associate department head of wildlife and fisheries science, and former speaker of the faculty senate agrees, "I was disappointed with the nature of the review by Chancellor McKinney. It appeared to be rushed and hurried.

"I feel that the President of Texas A&M deserves to be evaluated professionally and appropriately, and I was disappointed by the nature of the review."

After reading the review, or at least trying really, really hard to understand what was written in the review, at least one thing is clear to me: Chancellor McKinney doesn't like how Murano wouldn't bow down to his bidding. Well, I say, good for her.

Continued...

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