By Joh Covington Skyline Editor

ALPINE- In a surprise announcement, Sul Ross State University Provost Robert Kinucan said Monday that he would be stepping down effective March 1 after serving in the position for a year and a half.

In an email to staff and faculty, Kinucan, who has taught and researched at Sul Ross for more than 30 years, said he was stepping down to “return full time to my faculty position in the Department of Natural Resource Management.”

“I enjoyed the opportunity to work with many of you over the years and look forward to continuing to do so,” Kinucan wrote..

Kinucan was appointed provost in July of 2019, under the previous Sul Ross president Bill Kibler, taking over for Dr. Jim Case.

“It has been an honor serving as Provost,” Kinucan wrote. 

A Texas A&M graduate, Kinucan earned a Ph.D. in the philosophy of rangeland ecology, and an M.S. from the University of Idaho.

Kinucan has been an active member on behalf of the Sul Ross college community, leading the development of  the Department of Natural Resource Management and Department of Animal Science. He also helped increased enrollment at Sul Ross with the establishment of an online M.S. in Agriculture.

Before Kinucan had taken the provost office in 2019 he said, “I’m very committed to our students, to our institution, and to our faculty and staff. . . having spent most of my professional career at Sul Ross, I know we have the talent and drive for great accomplishments.”

Dr. Kinucan, President Pete Gallego, and Gallego’s Chief of Staff, Michael Pacheco were unavailable for comment..