On Jan. 9, Arizona State Land Commissioner Vanessa Hickman informed Gov. Doug Ducey of her resignation. Hickman has accepted a role at Arizona State University, which she will pursue after Jan. 12.

Hickman has worked at the Arizona State Land Department for five years and has been the commissioner since Nov. 2012. As state land commissioner, she oversaw the use of 9.3 million acres of State Trust Land. In 2013, under Hickman’s leadership, the ASLD sold more land in one year than any other year in the department’s history.

“Moving forward, I aspire to help improve the business as usual perspective on the intersect between real estate development, regulatory impacts and natural resource management with the support of a world renowned higher learning institution,” she wrote.

At ASU, Hickman will create an initiative to explore the issues impacting real estate, natural resources and economic development.

“I am confident this initiative will prove useful to the State of Arizona, Arizona State University and many others interested in thoughtful land use,” she wrote.