(WXYZ) — Michigan State University has selected Samuel Stanley Jr., the current president of Stony Brook University, as president after a Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday.
Stanley, a Harvard-trained doctor and medical researcher, has served as president of Stony Brook in Long Island for nearly 10 years.
On the heels of his hiring, there was backlash from students at Michigan State. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are currently three open federal investigations into sexual assault at Stony Brook University.
Michigan State student-group, Reclaim MSU, has responded to the hiring of Stanley in a statement saying students are "deeply disappointed" that the board chose a president without the "advice or consent of the MSU community as a whole."
STATEMENT: Dr. Stanley begins his leadership under a cloud of suspicion. He must immediately meet with survivors and their families and with the MSU community at large, particularly with those who have been pushing for fundamental change. #ReclaimMSU pic.twitter.com/RMT9m9R8ww
— ReclaimMSU (@ReclaimMSU) May 28, 2019
Stanley will serve as the university's first permanent president since the fallout from the Larry Nassar scandal.
Satish Udpa, the executive vice president of Administrative Services at MSU, was named interim president back in January after the resignation of Interim President John Engler. Engler was appointed in January 2018 after the resignation of President Lou Anna Simon.
BREAKING: Dr. Samuel Stanley Jr. to begin working as @michiganstateu Pres. August 1st, following a vote by the board. A search committee describes the Dr. as the “BEST” candidate w MOST credentials including strong academics, research, leadership, diversity & integrity. #12PM pic.twitter.com/vhultaK9b1
— Simon Shaykhet WXYZ (@simonshaykhet) May 28, 2019
BREAKING “MSU is an incredible institution... w/ scope & scale few others possess... to do good for communities, the nation & world. I care deeply about success, growing research & the drive to integrate arts.” New MSU Pres. Dr. Samuel Stanley Jr. @wxyzdetroit #12PM pic.twitter.com/x8li4BcwyI
— Simon Shaykhet WXYZ (@simonshaykhet) May 28, 2019
BREAKING: Dr. Samuel Stanley Jr. the new @michiganstateu President says he wants to continue to heal the wounds inflicted by former Dr. Larry Nassar on victims. A press conference is set to follow his appointment by a board vote. @wxyzdetroit #12PM pic.twitter.com/hL3Uyu17gj
— Simon Shaykhet WXYZ (@simonshaykhet) May 28, 2019
Simon resigned after sports doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to decades in prison for sexually assaulting women and girls.
Engler was forced out after a year as interim president amid backlash over his comments on some Nassar survivors. More than 100 survivors calledfor Engler's removal.
