UMD President To Stay On Until June 2020

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The embattled president of the University of Maryland has agreed to stay on until June 2020 as the Board of Regents searches for his replacement, the university announced in a statement.

Loh announced in October he would retire at the end of the academic year in June 2019 after a scandal involving the death of football player Jordan McNair rocked the school, leading to the firing of Coach DJ Durkin.

"Selecting the leader of any USM institution is among the Board of Regents' most important responsibilities," said USM Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden in the statement. "The search for the next leader of Maryland's flagship, the University of Maryland, College Park, will be critically important to the future of that institution and the entire state. We must take the time necessary to identify and select a bold and talented leader who can continue the upward trajectory of one of the nation's great public research universities."

Loh added on Twitter that "The Board discussed with me having a smooth transition of leadership, and we mutually agreed upon a retirement date of June 2020."

The Board discussed with me having a smooth transition of leadership, and we mutually agreed upon a retirement date of June 2020. With all of Maryland’s supporters, I look forward to what we will accomplish together. (2/2)
— Wallace D. Loh (@presidentloh) January 30, 2019

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)