University System of Maryland Board of Regents Chair James Brady has announced his resignation in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.
The announcement comes a day after University of Maryland President Wallace Loh fired the institution's Head Football Coach DJ Durkin.
RELATED: University of Maryland Football Coach DJ Durkin has been fired
University of Maryland students rallied on Thursday afternoon in an effort to show support for the school's student-athletes and to honor the memory of UMD football player Jordan McNair, who died from a heat stroke early this year.
ALSO RELATED: McNair family, students react to Durkin firing
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
For the past three years, I have had the honor and privilege of helping to lead an incomparable group of highly talented and dedicated public servants, working collectively to support and improve Maryland’s system of higher education. In doing so, I’ve been able to work with brilliant students, scholars and staff at universities across the system. This role has been one of the most satisfying of my life.
Together, we have made a lot of progress. During my time as board chair, and during my time in previous years as a member:
USM institutions have risen in national rankings, both in terms of quality and affordability;
USM universities hit record levels of enrollment;
We launched several initiatives to increase diversity and inclusion at universities across the system;
The board spearheaded efforts to increase civic education and engagement among students;
And, the board appointed new presidents at seven institutions: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
The board is an extraordinary body that does important work for the people and the state of Maryland. And I am committed to ensuring that the progress made by the university system in recent years continues.
In recent months, the board has engaged in a deep and thorough process of responding to issues arising out of the tragic death of Jordan McNair. I am very proud of that process.
From the beginning, we were determined to get all the facts before making the judgments and decisions we believed were in the best interest of the University of Maryland, College Park and its student-athletes. We hoped the lessons we would learn would positively affect student-athletes at universities across the system, the state and the nation.
I am also proud of the seriousness with which every member of the board took this responsibility. I want to thank them again for their service and their commitment to Maryland.
And I respect the many people – including elected leaders, members of the public and members of the board – who disagreed with the recommendations a majority of this board ultimately made. These were difficult decisions, based on information included in reports stemming from two investigations and a great deal of thought and deliberation.
I understand that reasonable people could come to other conclusions. And even among our board, some did.
Going forward, however, I believe the board needs to be able to return to the important business of supporting and advancing Maryland’s public university system, for the benefit of its students and families, and of people across the state.
In recent days, I have become the public face of both the board and its decisions related to these matters. In my estimation, my continued presence on the board will inhibit its ability to move Maryland’s higher education agenda forward. And I have no interest in serving as a distraction from that important work.
Accordingly, I will step down from the Board of Regents immediately.
I do so with thanks again to my many colleagues and friends on the board, at the University System of Maryland, and at every institution in that system. I’ll always be proud of the work we have done together and look forward to observing the many things you will accomplish for the people of this state in the years to come.
After expressing his concerns and insisting on the need for further investigation into the Board of Regents findings on the death of Jordan McNair, The Office of Governor Larry Hogan released a statement on Brady's resignation:
"Governor Hogan thanks Mr. Brady for his service on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, as well as his many years of distinguished public service under three governors of both parties. The governor believes that the university system must move forward in an open and transparent manner to restore public trust in Maryland’s flagship university."
The Board of Regents concluded in a statement released Thursday evening that their goal was to make recommendations focused solely on the best interest of the student-athletes and the university. They say they received comments from Maryland's elected officials on their disagreement with the board's findings and are on board to participate in any process they request.
They plan to collaborate with the institution to reform the policies and procedures and will include the adoption of a medical model to improve the well-being of the student-athletes at UMD.
The Board is in the process of scheduling a meeting next week to select a new board chair.
To view, the Board of Regents full statement, click here.
