Michael D. McKinney, M.D.
Chancellor, The Texas A&M University System
Dr. Michael D. McKinney was named chancellor of The Texas A&M University System on Nov. 22, 2006. The A&M System is comprised of nine universities, seven state agencies and a statewide health science center. The universities enroll 106,000 students, about 45,000 of whom are at Texas A&M University in College Station. The agencies perform agriculture and engineering-related research, service and continuing education for all of Texas and beyond. The A&M System makes more than 15 million additional educational contacts annually through service and outreach programs and brings in more than $620 million per year in externally funded research programs.
Dr. McKinney came to the A&M System from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where he was senior executive vice president and chief operating officer. He served in leadership positions at the UT System since 2002, including vice chancellor for health affairs and acting dean of the UT Medical School.
He is a former chief of staff to Governor Rick Perry, and served as commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission during former Governor George W. Bush’s first term. Dr. McKinney practiced medicine for 16 years in Centerville, Texas, before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where he was speaker pro-tempore from 1989-1990.
A family physician, Dr. McKinney earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston after obtaining his bachelor’s degree from The University of Houston. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society. His other career experiences include serving as CEO of a Medicaid health care plan and a member of the Physician Payment Review Commission in the Federal Office of Technology.
His many honors and achievements include receiving the Presidential Award of Merit for Exemplary Service from the Texas Academy of Family Practice. As a state representative, he was recognized as one of the 10 best legislators by both Texas Monthly and The Dallas Morning News, and as legislator of the year by the Texas Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
A longtime public servant, Chancellor McKinney is well-respected for his leadership as an administrator in academic, governmental and business organizations. He and his wife, Lou Ann, have three sons, two of whom play NFL football for the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns, and a high school senior who plays for the Centerville Tigers.
For more information:
Office of the Chancellor
The Texas A&M University System
A&M System Building
200 Technology Way
College Station, Texas 77845-3424
(979) 458-6000 - Fax (979) 458-6044