Reporting Matters

A summary of missed opportunities, failures, frustrations,
and accountability that are shaping a culture
Updated: Sep 19, 2023

State of Michigan

Brian Breslin
​Former: Director of Appointments, State of Michigan 
​Resigned Aug 6, 2018
  • "Breslin's resignation comes in the aftermath of the Larry Nasser [sic] sexual abuse scandal and the ensuing fallout at Michigan State ..."
    -- Detroit News, Aug 6, 2018

MSU Board of Trustees

Nancy Schlicting
​Former: MSU Trustee
Resigned Oct 28, 2019
  • Stated she no longer wishes to serve on a board unwilling to be open or to conduct an independent review of the past several years actions, including the Larry Nassar scandal. 
Brian Breslin
​Former: Chair, MSU Board of Trustees
Term Expired Dec 31, 2019
Mitch Lyons
​Former: MSU Trustee
Term Expired Dec 31, 2019
Joel Ferguson
​Former: Vice Chair, MSU Board of Trustees
Former: MSU Trustee 
Term Expired Dec 31, 2020
Brian Mosallam
Former: MSU Trustee 
Term Expired Dec 31, 2020
Bill Beekman
​Former: Secretary, MSU BoT
Former: Acting President, MSU
Promoted to: MSU Athletic Director (resigned Aug 5, 2021)
Current: MSU VP for Strategic Initiatives​
  • Citing attorney-client privilege, MSU withheld or redacted ~6K documents from the MI AG's investigation into the MSU administration. Email messages obtained by the AG’s office, made it clear that MSU was trying to use the privilege in nefarious ways. A Dec 2017 email message sent by Bill Beekman (then Secretary of the MSU BoT) to then-President Simon ended with the phrase, “I will delete this email after sending it.”​
  • ​The AG’s office asked the board of trustees to waive privilege, but MSU has refused to date. The AG's office then asked MSU to turn over the documents in question to a neutral third-party for review, but MSU has denied that request too.
Pat O'Keefe
Former: MSU Trustee 
Resigned Oct 2022
  • "Knowing the institution's history, I can no longer serve on a Board that purports to promote cultural change yet struggles itself to be transparent." [More context]

MSU Administration

Lou Anna Simon
​President Emertus, MSU
Resigned as President Jan 24, 2018
Retired Aug 31, 2019
  • Informed of William Strampel's misconduct in 2010 (p. 47)
  • Resigned as President Jan 24, 2018, at the request of MSU Trustees
  • Charged with:
    ​-- 2 misdemeanors (impeding an investigation into misconduct in office by public officials)
    -- 2 felonies (impeding an investigation into first-degree criminal sexual conduct)
    CHARGES DISMISSED May 13, 2020. MI Attorney General’s office filed an appeal; case is awaiting oral argument.
  • Receiving $2.45M payout from MSU upon retirement
John Engler
​​Former: Interim President, MSU
Resigned
  • Resigned Jan 16, 2019 at request of Dianne Byrum, Chair, MSU Board of Trustees
June Youatt
Former: ​​Provost, MSU
Resigned as Provost Sep 5, 2019
Current: Professor, MSU
  • Knew of multiple "very negative" sexual harrassment claims made against William Strampel in 2005, 2010 and 2015, but continued to employ him because they were balanced with his work leading diversity initiatives
  • Resigned as Provost on Sep 5, 2019 following "intense scrutiny" from the US Dept. of Education
  • Currently conducting 6 months of research to be followed by a 6 month paid sabbatical at a rate of $480K/year
  • Plans to return to MSU as a professor in 2020 (earning $288K/year), although at least one call for her removal has been issued
John Hudzik
Former: Acting Provost, MSU
Current: Professor, MSU School of Criminal Justice
  • Called meeting with William Strampel (summer  2005) to discuss his inappropriate comments in public presentations and to students. Kristine Zayko (MSU Legal) & Robert Banks (provost's office) also attended. After meeting, a letter documenting the conversation was placed in Strampel's personnel file, and Strampel promised he would change. Nobody followed up. Strampel did not change.​
Theodore H. Curry II
MSU Vice Provost | VP Academic HR
  • Informed of William Strampel's misconduct (sexual harrassment) in 2005, 2010, and 2015, but never followed up to be sure that the behavior stopped nor took any action to report the behavior further (p. 47-49)​
Dr. Robert Banks
Retired (2017): ​​Assoc Provost & Assoc VP for Academic HR, MSU
  • Attended meeting with William Strampel (summer  2005). Purpose of meeting was to discuss Strampel's inappropriate comments in public presentations and to students. John Hudzik (acting provost) led meeting and Kristine Zayko (MSU Legal) also attended. After meeting, a letter documenting the conversation was placed in Strampel's personnel file, and Strampel promised he would change. Nobody followed up. Strampel did not change.​
Tomas Hult
Former: Director, MSU Int'l Business Center
Suspended | No longer Director
Former: Exec Director, Academy of Int'l Business (2004-2019)
Stepped down as Exec Director
Current: Professor, MSU
Retained as Professor
  • Jan 2019: Accused of sexual misconduct
  • Jun 2019: MSU Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) concluded that Hult did not engage in behavior that violated MSU's Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • July 2019: OIE ruling appealed, but not overturned
  • Sep 2019: MSU stated his actions were "not consistent with behavior we believe should happen in our business college and at the university"
  • Oct 1-Dec 23, 2019: Suspended as Director of the MSU International Business Center and is no longer listed on the organization's website
  • Oct 28, 2019: Academy of International Business announced he would step down as Executive Director on Jan 1, 2020
  • Hult will not receive a merit raise
  • Hult will attend anti-sexual harrassment training 
  • Currently a professor at MSU (i.e. his duties as a faculty member were never affected)
Heather Swain
​VP for Marketing, PR & Digital Strategy, MSU
Job offer from GW University
​Withdrew Acceptance of GW position
  • Citing attorney-client privilege, MSU withheld or redacted ~6K documents from the MI AG's investigation into the MSU administration. Email messages obtained by the AG’s office, made it clear that MSU was trying to use the privilege in nefarious ways. Via email, Swain told Trustee Breslin to copy Robert Noto (MSU legal counsel) on an email to other Trustees in order to “maintain privilege,” although the email was not seeking any legal advice from Noto. 
  • ​The AG’s office asked the board of trustees to waive privilege, but MSU has refused to date. The AG's office then asked MSU to turn over the documents in question to a neutral third-party for review, but MSU has denied that request too.
  • Aug 15, 2020: George Washington University announced that Swain had withdrawn her acceptance of the position of VP of for communications and marketing after a petition describing her hiring as "offensive and inappropriate" got more than 1,000 signatures. The petition referenced her role in MSU claiming thousands of documents related to Nassar are protected by attorney-client privilege. 
Nicole Rovig
Former: ​​Registrar, MSU
Resigned

MSU Police

Valerie O'Brien
Former: Detective, MSU Police
Former: Asst Chief, MSU Police
On Paid Administrative Leave from Apr 4, 2019-Sep 9, 2020
Demoted: Captain, MSU Police
On Paid Administrative Leave 
Resigned: May 1, 2021
  • 2014: Investigated Amanda Thomashow's sexual assault report (no charges filed)
  • Claimed that Amanda Thomashow did not tell her that Nassar was aroused in 2014, although notes taken during meeting (published in 2019) support Amanda's statement
  • Jul 2015: Submitted a warrant request for charges against Nassar
  • Dec 2015: Warrant request denied by Ingham County Prosecutors Office
  • Date?: Promoted to Assistant Chief 
  • Unwilling to answer questions from MI Attorney General investigators re: handling the the 2014 Nassar probe (as of Mar 2019).
  • Apr 4, 2019: Placed on paid administrative leave
  • Sep 9, 2020: Returned to work and demoted
  • Mar 3, 2021: It was announced she is on paid administrative leave again (due to pending drunk driving and other charges)
  • May 1, 2021: Resigned
Note:
  • Meridian Township Police were notified of a concern about Nassar in 2004. They cleared him and did not report the complaint to MSU nor the Ingham County Prosecutor.

MSU Legal Team

Robert Noto
Former: General Councel, MSU
Retired
​Kristine Zayko
Former: Acting General Counsel, MSU
Resigned 
  • 2005: Reportedly knew of reports describing William Strampel's inappropriate behavior, but failed to take appropriate steps to stop him
  • May 4, 2018: Resigned amidst criticism from MSU Trustees
  • Aug 6, 2018: Joined Husch Blackwell as senior counsel in its Education practice group
Bob Young
Former: General Councel, MSU
​Current: Adjunct Professor, MSU
Relieved of General Counsel Duties 
Retained as Professor
Paulette Granberry Russell
Former: Title IX Coordinator, MSU
Current: ​Sr Diversity Advisor, MSU
​Transitioning to new role: Special Advisor to the President (of MSU)
  • Previously: Responsible for enforcing Title IX policy at MSU
  • Received updates every 2 weeks re: 2014 Title IX Nassar investigation.
  • Provided updates re: Nassar investigation to Lou Anna Simon (former President of MSU)
  • Key witness in the trial of Lou Anna Simon
Kristine Moore
Former: Title IX Investigator, MSU
Current: ​Asst General Counsel, MSU
Promoted 
  • 2014: Led Title IX investigation re: Nassar and updated her boss (Paulette Granberry-Russel every 2 weeks) re: status.
  • 2014: Produced two different versions of of the Title IX Report after investigating Amanda Thomashow's complaint
  • Claimed that Amanda Thomashow did not tell her that Nassar was aroused in 2014, although her notes (published in 2019) support Amanda's statement
  • 2014: Her Title IX investigation cleared Nassar
  • Promoted to Assistant General Counsel, OGC, MSU after 2014
  • Calls for Kristine Moore's resignation or termination persist

MSU Athletic Department

Mark Hollis
Former: Athletic Director, MSU
Retired
  • Jan 31, 2018: Retired after it was reported that it took him almost six months after the first reports of Nassar’s abuse became public, to reach out to current and former female MSU athletes explaining how to actually report abuse by Nassar
  • Apr 6, 2021: Additional background info provided in this Cleveland Business Journal article
Kathie Klages
Former: Gymnastics Coach, MSU
Suspended with pay
Retired
​Convicted & Sentenced
​Conviction Reversed
  • 1997: Larissa Boyce (age 16) told Klages that Larry Nassar was making her feel uncomfortable during exams. Klages informed only Nassar.
  • Feb 13, 2017: Suspended with pay by MSU
  • Feb 14, 2017: Retired from MSU
  • Feb 14, 2020: Convicted of 1 felony count + 1 misdemeanor count for lying to the police about her knowledge that Nassar had been accussed of sexual abuse (during interview with police on Jun 21, 2018)
  • Aug 4, 2020: Sentenced to 90 days in jail + 180 days of probation
  • Dec 21, 2021: Conviction reversed
Unnamed Male
Associate Athletic Director, MSU
  • Per US Dept of Education Report: A strength and conditioning coach informed him that he'd received a call from former MSU athlete who had informed him that Nassar “had touched her inappropriately.”
  • He "told the coach to call [the survivor] and explain to her that he had to report the incident." (Neither he nor the coach reported the woman’s call to the police, the university’s Title IX office, or any other office or official.) 
Unnamed Male
Strength & Conditioning Coach, MSU
  • After recent training about how to report sexual assault incidents, received call from former MSU athlete in 2016, informing him that Nassar “had touched her inappropriately.” “[H]e ignored that training” and informed an associate athletic director instead.
  • Called the athlete back, advising her that, there "would be a big investigation and she will be contacted.” (No investigation occurred.)
  • Per US Dept of Education Report:  "the coach stated that he was aware he failed to follow his mandatory reporting training, but had no intention at any time of correcting his mistake.” 
Kelli Bert
​Former: Asst Track Coach, MSU
Heena Shah Trivedi
Former: Athletic Trainer, MSU
  • 1999: Tiffany Thomas Lopez reported a concern about Nassar to her
  • 1999: Trivedi reported the concern to MSU Athletic Trainer Lianna Hadden 
Tony Robles
Former: Athletic Trainer, MSU
  • 2002: A woman athlete told Robles about Nassar. The athlete told investigators that Robles “seemed concerned,” but she assured Robles everything was fine.
Destiny Teachnor-Hauk
Athletic Trainer (gymnastics), MSU
  • 2000: Informed of Nassar concern by Tiffany Thomas Lopez and cautioned her that filing a report would put a burden on Lopez, her family and MSU
  • Teachnor-Hauk was one of the four medical experts used in the 2014 Title IX investigation of Nassar. She said she'd never heard a complaint about Nassar.
  • MI's Licensing and Regulatory Affairs & the MI Attorney General are serving an administrative complaint, alleging she lied to investigators about what she knew about the sexual abuse of students. The complaint is being forwarded to the disciplinary subcommittee of the MI Board of Athletic Trainers for determination of whether to impose a sanction.
  • Aug 19, 2021: Complaint dismissed
Lianna Hadden
Athletic Trainer (swim/wrestling), MSU
  • 1999: Heena Shah Trivedi (MSU Athletic Trainer) informed Hadden about Tiffany Thomas Lopez's concern about Nassar
  • 2000 or 2001: Jennifer Bedford informed Hadden that she was not comfortable with Nassar’s treatment
  • Hadden failed to report both concerns
  • MI's Licensing and Regulatory Affairs & the MI Attorney General are serving an administrative complaint, alleging she lied to investigators about what she knew about the sexual abuse of students. The complaint is being forwarded to the disciplinary subcommittee of the MI Board of Athletic Trainers for determination of whether to impose a sanction.
  • Aug 19, 2021: Complaint dismissed
David Jager
Athletic Trainer (football, tennis), MSU
  • 2015: His girlfriend, Kellee Sajdak, told him that Nassar had "groped" her. Jager failed to report Larry Nassar's abuse and told Sajdak that Nassar was the “best in the world” and to file a report if she felt uncomfortable. 
  • Oct 2019: Charges dismissed.
    Previously charged with violence against women in 2 Ingham County district courts (    accusations: attempted sexual assault, domestic violence, lying to a police officer) 
    -- Misdemeanor Accusation: Assaulting a woman (his girlfriend at Spartan Stadium) in Aug 2015 & lying about it
    -- Felony Accusation: Attempting to sexually assault a woman (not his girlfriend) in Lansing in Feb 2016
  • On paid administration leave from MSU since March 2018 (MSU spokesperson not able to provide reason as of Aug 15, 2019)
  • Oct 11, 2019: Charges dropped
Mark Dantonio
Former: Head Football Coach, MSU
Retired
  • Nov 12, 2018: Named in a wrongful termination law suit filed by former employee Curtis Blackwell (related to sexual assault claims against former MSU football players)
  • Feb 4, 2010: Resigned as head football coach
    ​"Dantonio’s ​sudden retirement alters a legacy that seemed untouchable, and now seems complicated."  -- The Detroit News, Feb 5, 2020
  • Currently: Awaiting decision to determine whether or not wrongful termination lawsuit will go to trail (expected to proceed spring or summer 2020)
  • Lawsuit dismissed
Curtis Blackwell
Former: Director of college adv & perf (Recruiting),  MSU Football (2013-17)
Suspended (with pay)
Contract not renewed
  • Jan 16, 2017: Learned about a report of sexual assault by 3 MSU football players
  • Reportedly had contact with the players involved in the assault to determine what had occurred, but failed to report any info learned to OIE or MSU and was accused of interfering with a police investigation
  • Feb 9, 2017: Suspended with pay
  • Apr-May 2017: Contract renewaled monthly
  • May 31, 2017: Contract not renewed upon expiration
  • Currently: Suing Mark Dantonio (Football coach), Mark Hollis (former AD), Lou Anna Simon (former president), Chad Davis (MSU Police), and Sam Miller (MSU Police) for wrongful termination and unlawful arrest
  • Lawsuit dismissed

MSU Mental Health Services

Lionel Rosen
Former: Sports Phychiatrist, MSU
Current: Professor, MSU
  • 2010: Shannon Dunn told Rosen about Nassar. Rosen “expressed no concern” and told Dunn that Nassar was doing what was best for her.
Gary Stollak
Retired Professor & Clinical Psychologist, MSU
Forced to surrender license
  • ​Failed to report Nassar (as required by law) after Kyle Stevens told him (in 1998) that she had been abused 
  • Retired in 2007
  • Forced to permanently surrender psychology license

MSU Medical School

William Strampel
Former: Dean, MSU
Medical Leave
Retired
Convicted | Served Prison Time (released early - COVID-19)
​Surrendered Medical License
​Fined 
  • ​Criminally charged Mar 2018
  • Retired Jun 30, 2018
  • Convicted of misconduct in office + 2 counts of willful neglect of duty on Jun 12, 2019
  • Acquitted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct on Jun 12, 2019
  • Sentenced Aug 7, 2019: 
    Count 1 (felony; misconduct in office): 11 months in Ingham County Jail
    Count 2 (misdemeanor; willful neglect of duty): 1 year in Ingham County Jail
    Count 3 (misdemeanor; willful neglect of duty): 1 year in Ingham County Jail
    (Sentences to be served concurrently)

    “You were not convicted of sexual harassment and that needs to heard loud and clear. You were convicted for using your position as the dean of the College of (Osteopathic) Medicine to proposition, manipulate and, in my view, oppress women."  - Judge Draganchuk, Aug 7, 2019​
  • Surrendered Medical License & Fined $35,000 by the State of Michigan
  • Released from jail early (March 2020)
  • Applealed conviction and lost appeal
Dr. Lisa DeStefano
Professor & Chair, Dept of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, MSU
Rebecca Cass
Former: Supervisor, MSU College of Osteopathic MSU
  • Catryina Brown told Cass that Nassar had abused her.

MSU Sports Medicine Clinic

Dr. Jeffrey Kovan
Director of Sports Medicine and Performance/Physician, MSU Athletics
  • Reported Amanda Thomashow's 2014 complaint about Nassar to Title IX office.
  • Defended Nassar after he was fired from MSU in 2016, but withdrew his support for Nassar in June 2018.
Dr. Brooke Lemmen
Former: Physician, MSU
Current: Physician, Private Practice
Resigned
  • 2007: Katie Castle told Dr. Lemmen that she was uncomfortable with Nassar's treatments.
  • Another young girl told Dr. Lemmen the same thing and Dr. Lemmon said, "We get that a lot".
  • Told investigators (2014) that Nassar’s behavior was medically appropriate.
  • Resigned Jan 18, 2017 after learning that MSU was "seriously considering" terminating her employment based on knowledge of sexual assault allegations against Nassar which she did not disclose, as well as her conduct after the allegations were made public. (e.g. She removed several boxes of confidential treatment records from MSU's Sports Medicine Clinic at Nassar's request.)
  • Cleared of violating the Michigan public health code (Nov 2018).
  • Family & Sports Medicine Physician at Mason Family Health Center
Dr. Jennifer Gilmore
Asst Professor, Dept of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, MSU

MSU Faculty

John T. Madden
Former: ​​Spartan Marching Band Director, MSU
Suspended
Retired
  • Violated MSU Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct policy
  • Suspended without pay (May 27 - Jun 3, 2016)
  • Banned from 2017 Huddle
  • Promotion to full-time professor delayed to Oct 1, 2016
  • Retired Aug 16, 2017
Robert Wiseman
Professor, MSU
Suspended (6 weeks)
Retained as Professor
  • Engaged in a pattern of "unwanted, persistent and pervasive" sexual behavior that created a hostile environment (per MSU contract investigators) 
  • ​Suspended without pay (Feb 22-Apr 4, 2019)
  • Currently a professor at MSU
Dr. John Norder
Professor, MSU
  • Accused in Aug 2018 of telling a co-worker about his sexual fetishes and experiences  that included bondage, anonymous sex, voyeurism and sex with his wife, along with additional inappropriate behavior 
  • An early 2019  MSU Information Security investigaors reported that they recovered more than 1,000 sexually explicit video and image files from Norder's computer, evidence of deleted files of sexually explicit images, and web browser bookmarks for sexually explicit sites
  • As of Feb 15, 2020, MSU continues to employ Dr. Norder who teaches undergraduate anthropology classes

MSU University Advancement

Pete Lasher
Former: Associate Vice President for University Development 
Resigned
Bob Thomas
MSU Advancement Mktg & Comms
Former: Assistant Vice President 
Former: Interim Exec Dir, MSU Alumni Association
Demoted
Retained as Exec Director
  • Demoted Nov 2018 after it became known that he was in a multi-year romantic relationship with a direct report; the relationship caused significant decision-making bias and violated MSU policy.
  • Currently Executive Director, Advancement Marketing & Communications, MSU
Andrew Watkins
Former: Exec Director of Constituent Relations
Resigned
​
Scott Westerman
Former: Exec Dir, MSU Alumni Association
Resigned
  • Resigned Apr 16, 2018 (effective Jul 31, 2018) after a complaint was filed against him during the Title IX investigation period.
  • In Aug 2018 it was determined that he engaged in “severe, persistent, and pervasive unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature” with an unnamed female claimant who was a student at the time.
  • Currently blogs