East Lansing principal resigns amid investigation into fake doctorate degree

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - The former principal of East Lansing High School has resigned after he reportedly provided fraudulent transcripts indicating he had completed his doctorate degree.

Update: East Lansing superintendent speaks out following principal’s resignation

In an email sent to East Lansing High School staff Thursday, superintendent Dori Leyko gave details regarding Shannon Mayfield’s resignation. According to Leyko, Mayfield had provided fraudulent transcripts that said he had completed his doctorate degree. The district’s HR department had reportedly been communicating with him since January regarding the documentation of his degree completion, which was not received until Feb. 27.

The district said they received word from Wayne State University that Mayfield had not earned any degree from their university and had not been enrolled as a student there since 1999.

The registrar at Wayne State University reportedly confirmed with the school district that the transcript provided by Mayfield was fraudulent.

“I scheduled a meeting with him last week to ask questions and offer him an opportunity to tell his story,” Leyko wrote. “He refused to answer our questions and submitted his resignation Friday.”

Leyko said the district collected and verified Mayfield’s certifications when hired, but “the notification of the doctorate degree was not sent to HR until December 2022.”

Read next:

• Lansing Community College students, staff left in the dark due to cyberattack
• Downtown Jackson’s ‘Social District’ kicks off in time for Saint Patrick’s Day
• Michigan State Police apprehend man wanted on multiple felony warrants

Subscribe to our News 10 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning.

Copyright 2023 WILX. All rights reserved.