Published: June 25, 2008 11:40 am      

UPDATE — 2nd WVU official to step down after degree scandal

MORGANTOWN — Another top West Virginia University official is resigning in the wake of a master's degree scandal involving the governor's daughter.

Craig Walker, chief of staff under President Mike Garrison, will resign Sept. 1, the same day Garrison plans to step aside. But Walker also said Tuesday that he will help with the transition to a new administration if asked.

Like those of all will-and-pleasure employees, Walker's current contract expires July 1.

Walker and two other key staffers, WVU attorney Alex Macia and former chief communications officer Bill Case, attended a key meeting last fall at which administrators decided to award Heather Bresch a degree that investigators later concluded she had not earned.

Bresch is an executive with generic drug maker Mylan Inc., near Canonsburg, Pa., a longtime friend of Garrison and the daughter of Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin.

While investigators concluded neither Bresch nor Garrison did anything wrong, their report also said the presence of Garrison's top aides created "palpable pressure" to help Bresch.

WVU spokeswoman Becky Lofstead said Wednesday it is typical for a senior administrator to offer to resign when new leadership comes on board.

"Craig Walker has been a long-standing, respected and trusted administrator at WVU and the WVU Foundation for many years — and is doing what most would do and is expected in this situation," she said. "This action should not be defined by the Bresch matter."

Case has been reassigned to WVU Health Sciences, where he will become a permanent addition to the team July 15, said spokeswoman Amy Johns.

Case has more than 15 years of experience at Health Sciences, where he worked before joining the administration of former Democratic Gov. Bob Wise with Garrison. Case returned to Health Sciences after that assignment ended.

Administrators are still working out Case's duties and title, Johns said. He currently earns a salary of $135,000.

"We do anticipate a drop in salary," she said, "but that will be up to human resources."

Macia, who has given up his general counsel duties, remains as WVU's vice president of legal affairs. He has not yet announced his plans.