Only one year into his three-year contract as Oregon’s chief education officer, Rudy Crew announced that he would be leaving Oregon to reside as president for Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn.

After Crew applied for the job, as suggested by City University of New York chancellor Matthew Goldstein, the CUNY board of trustees voted Monday to hire Crew.

Crew currently sits on the Oregon Education Investment Board, a board that works to create a “seamless” education system that will prepare all Oregonians for future careers. Crew makes $284,012 per year as reported by The Statesman Journal — the second-highest paid state employee.

In a joint statement, Board of Trustees Chairperson Benno Schmidt and Chancellor Goldstein were glad to announce the recent hire, boasting about Crew’s accomplishments in Oregon.

“Dr. Rudy Crew brings to Medgar Evers College an exemplary record of academic, administrative and governmental accomplishment, combined with classroom experience and a strong commitment to students. We are confident that, with his leadership, Medgar Evers College will achieve new levels of excellence for its dedicated students and faculty and strengthen its role with the community,” the statement read.

Governor John Kitzhaber released a statement Monday afternoon announcing that he will appoint an interim Chief Education Officer by July 15.

“We now have a framework for better accountability at the state and local level to boost high school graduation rates, improve access to quality post-secondary education and training and begin to reinvest in education,” Kitzhaber said. “Our work will continue. I am pleased that at all levels of the education system – from early learning to K-12 and post-secondary — we have committed leaders in place to deliver on our promise to Oregonians.”