Penn State University's Board of Trustees has accepted the resignation of Graham Spanier, ending his 16-year tenure as University President, the Board announced in a Wednesday evening press conference.
Spanier has come under fire in recent days for his handling of the sex-abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. In a written statement, Spanier publicly expressed his "unconditional support" for Timothy Curley and Gary Schultz, two school officials who were charged with perjury and for not reporting to the police a 2002 eyewitness allegation of Sandusky raping a boy in a Penn State locker room.
"Tim Curley and Gary Schultz operate at the highest levels of honesty, integrity and compassion," Spanier said. "I am confident the record will show that these charges are groundless and that they conducted themselves professionally and appropriately."
Prior to joining Penn State, Spanier served in administrative positions at Nebraska, Oregon State, and SUNY Stony Brook.