The July 23 Cedar Park City Council meeting will be the last for Place 6 Council Member Don Tracy, who is resigning to join a Texas State University doctoral program.

Tracy said he will pursue a Ph.D. beginning this fall. The two-year program will begin by including classes on Monday and Thursday evenings, which would conflict with regularly scheduled City Council meetings on Thursday nights, he said.

“[I’m] stepping away, then having a couple of weeks until school starts,” he said.

Tracy was first elected to council in 2010. He has also served as mayor pro tem and as a member of several city committees. Before serving on City Council he was a member of the Cedar Park Economic Development Board, or 4A Board. Tracy is the director of business operations and marketing for Austin Community College’s continuing education division.

Tracy said the doctoral program will support his work with the college, where he helps develop certification programs for adults who want to transition into new jobs.

“I’m blessed to be able to work at the college … [to] serve with this council and [to work for] the things that I’m most passionate about in my service to this community—economic development, entrepreneurship and education,” Tracy said. “Although I won’t be wearing the City Council hat, I’ll still be having the same conversations on how to grow this community.”

During the July 23 council meeting, City Council members plan to recognize Tracy’s work. Council members will also discuss the process of appointing a successor to complete Tracy’s two-year term, which will expire in May 2016.