Brian McCall, a former state representative and the current chancellor of the Texas State University System, was named the 2010 Arts and Humanities Distinguished Alumnus of the Year last month.

McCall, who received his PhD in Humanities-Aesthetic Studies from The University of Texas at Dallas in 2006, has been a longtime friend of higher education.

Brian McCall

Brian McCall delivered a class lecture during a legislative visit to UT Dallas in 2008.

Dr. Dennis Kratz, dean of the UT Dallas School of Arts and Humanities, said, “Brian McCall is among the most honorable, intelligent and yet unassuming people I have ever known. Texas was fortunate to have such a dedicated and humane legislator; the Texas State University system is fortunate to have Dr. McCall as its Chancellor; and UT Dallas is honored to call him an alumnus.”

As a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1991 to 2010, McCall represented North Dallas, Frisco, Allen and Plano.  He was the chairman of the Committee on Calendars and a member of the Committee on Higher Education. Texas Monthly magazine named McCall one of the “10 Best” legislators for the 2009 legislative session.

Named chancellor of the Texas State University System in March 2010, McCall said, “I’m excited. Anybody would be. There are many good things happening, and I’m looking forward to working for each school. I want the people of Texas to realize what a treasure we have at each university in this system, and that’s an easy sell.”

McCall holds a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. His book, The Power of the Texas Governor: Connally to Bush, comes from his doctoral dissertation at UT Dallas, which was directed by Kratz and Dr. Anthony Champagne, and was released in March 2009.