January 8, 2004

Texas A&M University at Quatar

Texas A&M University at Galveston Vice President and CEO Michael Kemp, who has been named dean and CEO of the new branch campus of Texas A&M University in the State of Qatar, said that it will be only the second branch of the university and the first outside of Texas.  

"They are establishing over there something called 'Education City,' and they are asking selected American Universities to come over and establish programs that are their strengths," Kemp explained.  "They are asking A&M to do engineering, they are asking Virginia Commonwealth to do fine arts, Cornell to do medicine, they are asking Carnegie Mellon to do business and they are negotiating with Georgetown to do political science and diplomacy."

Kemp said that his six and one-half years at the Galveston campus helped prepare him for the new assignment.

"I have had a wonderful time in Galveston," Kemp said.  "It has been an incredible learning experience for me."

Bill Hearn will serve as interim CEO while a search is conducted for a permanent replacement for Kemp.

A recording of the interview is posted at www.guidrynews.com/04January/00804Kemp.ram  

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