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Henri Grissino-Mayer, a professor of geography at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, resigned after the institution received a series of reports about inappropriate conduct and an “intimate relationship” with a student, according to his personnel file, Knox News reported. The university received an initial complaint last month and is currently investigating Grissino-Mayer, who had been previously been on administrative leave.
"These reports describe a pattern of abusing his position and power as a tenured full professor with an active research program, a well-funded laboratory … and a steady pipeline of high-achieving graduate students," David Manderscheid, provost, reportedly wrote in an email to several faculty members about Grissino-Mayer. “[His] conduct has been so egregious, many of us have struggled with whether the university should accept his resignation.” But after careful review of the “competing concerns,” he said, “I concluded that the most compelling interests are those of his current and former students.” That means forgoing termination proceedings that would subject students to cross-examination or deposition, Manderscheid said.
Grissino-Mayer's departure will be listed as "resignation in lieu of termination," and he is not eligible for tenure, professor emeritus status, retiree privileges or rehire at Tennessee, according to Knox News. He is also barred from campus and not allowed to contact students. Tennessee prohibits professor-student relationships when the professor has an evaluative authority over a student and otherwise discourages such relationships. Grissino-Mayer, who reportedly faced controversy in 2011 over his marriage to a former student, did not respond to a request for comment. A university spokesperson said he will receive his regular pay through his last day, earlier this month, and will receive the retirement benefits he has accrued.
