The Gazette: Deasy earned his doctorate, says lawyer for former dean
Attorney claims superintendent is victim of ‘negative publicity’ surrounding ex-university official
An attorney for a former University of Louisville dean is coming to the defense of Prince George’s County Schools Superintendent John E. Deasy, stating the school leader earned the doctorate he received from the university.
Deasy came under scrutiny last week when Kentucky media questioned how he was able to receive a doctorate of philosophy in education in 2004 after taking only nine credits at the school.
Questions were also raised about Deasy’s prior relationship with Robert Felner, the dean of the school of education who signed off on Deasy’s dissertation. Felner was previously a dean at the University of Rhode Island at the same time Deasy was a student there. Also, while Deasy was superintendent at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, the school district reportedly awarded a $125,000 annual contract to an organization led by Felner to conduct surveys.
Felner resigned from the University of Louisville in June and is currently under investigation for allegedly misappropriating a $649,000 grant, according to Kentucky media reports. Felner has not been charged with a crime.
Scott C. Cox, who is representing Felner, said his client was not involved in granting Deasy’s doctorate degree.
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