On the same day that Dr. Larry Nassar, a long-time sports physician at Michigan State University, was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for the sexual abuse of members of the U.S. Gymnastics team and university student athletes, Lou Anna Simon, president of Michigan State University, resigned her post. Student protesters had called for her resignation. The Detroit News had reported that at least 14 officials at the university had been notified of allegations against Dr. Nassar as early as 2014.
In her statement of resignation, President Simon said “to the survivors, I can never say enough that I am so sorry that a trusted, renowned physician was really such an evil, evil person who inflicted such harm under the guise of medical treatment. I know that we all share the same resolve to do whatever it takes to avert such tragedies here and elsewhere.”
Dr. Simon insisted that there was no coverup by university officials. But she added that “as tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable. As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger.”
Lou Anna Simon became the twentieth president of Michigan State University in 2005. Before becoming president she served as provost for 11 years. She was appointed a John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in 2017.
Dr. Simon holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in counseling from Indiana State University. She earned a Ph.D. in higher education from Michigan State University.