Third University of Missouri dean says he's stepping down

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Another University of Missouri dean at the Columbia campus is stepping down.

The school's provost said in a Tuesday email to staff that College of Arts and Science dean Michael O'Brien is resigning.

Provost Garnett Stokes said O'Brien is joining Texas A&M University-San Antonio as provost and vice president for academic affairs. He starts July 15.

He joined the Columbia faculty in 1980 as an assistant professor of anthropology. O'Brien began as dean in 2006.

He's the third dean in roughly the past week to announce plans to resign.

Law School dean Gary Myers announced he'll step down in August. Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources dean Thomas Payne said he's considered retiring for years and will step down in December for family reasons. He's been dean since 1999.