New Chair Of USM Regents Apologizes For Board's Rulings On Maryland

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents elected a new chair, who promptly apologized for the board's actions related to the University of Maryland football scandal.

Linda R. Gooden, appointed in 2009 by Gov. Martin O'Malley and reappointed in 2014 by Gov. Larry Hogan, was voted to lead the group a week after the resignation of James Brady.

Brady resigned after criticism of regents' recommendations calling for Maryland to retain football coach D.J. Durkin and athletic director Damon Evans following investigations into the death of lineman Jordan McNair and the broader culture of the football program. President Wallace Loh, who announced his coming retirement at the same press conference, nevertheless dismissed Durkin the next day.

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In a statement, Gooden apologized for the board's majority votes on decisions related to McNair's death, and said the board on her watch will recommit to shared governance.

"While the board’s decision was far from unanimous, and many members voted a different way, everyone on the board now understands that the board’s personnel recommendations were wrong," she said. "For that, we apologize to the McNair family, the University of Maryland, College Park community, and to the citizens of our state."

Gooden, a retired Lockheed Martin executive, also sits on the boards of GM, Home Depot, WGL and ADP. She has a bachelor's degree in computer technology from Youngstown State University, and a bachelor's in business and administration and an MBA from the University of Maryland University College. She lives in Anne Arundel County.

Hogan must still appoint someone to fill out the rest of Brady's term. The University System of Maryland oversees Maryland and 16 other state colleges and universities.

On Wednesday, Maryland fired two trainers involved in the treatment of McNair, who died following heatstroke suffered during a May practice.