Jan 3, 2008 11:26 am US/Central
Murano Becomes First Female, Hispanic To Lead A&M
COLLEGE STATION (AP) ―
Elsa Murano was named the 23rd president of Texas A&M University on Thursday, becoming the first woman and first Hispanic to hold the position.
Murano, a 48-year-old former A&M administrator who fled Cuba as a child, was the only finalist for the post and officially named by the A&M System's Board of Regents.
"I am grateful to live in a country that has provided so many opportunities, including the great honor to serve as president of Texas A&M University," she said. "I pledge to build upon the legacy and strong foundation established by my predecessors as we continue moving forward in establishing Texas A&M as one of the top public academic institutions in the world."
Murano was previously the vice chancellor and dean of A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Prior to that, she was the first Hispanic to serve as undersecretary for food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a position she held from 2001-2004.
"Dr. Murano understands the Aggie culture, embodies the Aggie spirit and offers a modern vision of leadership that invites the best and brightest to serve by her side in fulfilling Texas A&M's unlimited potential," said Bill Jones, chairman of the Board.
Murano fled Cuba with her family at a young age in the early 1960s. Born in Havana, she and her family lived in several Latin American countries before moving to Miami.
She earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Florida International University, then a master's degree in anaerobic microbiology and a Ph.D. in food science and technology from Virginia Tech University.
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