David Carrera, former vice president of advancement and health sciences development at Los Angeles-based University of Southern California, left his post in the wake of allegations he sexually harassed several female colleagues. Mr. Carrera was reportedly responsible for raising millions of dollars in funding for nine of USC's professional schools, including the Keck School of Medicine at USC, the Los Angeles Times reports.
University officials did not specify whether Mr. Carrera was fired or had resigned from his post. However, the Los Angeles Times confirmed he was the subject of an internal investigation regarding the sexual harassment allegations at the time of his departure.
Sources familiar with the investigation told the Los Angeles Times USC received at least five complaints about Mr. Carrera's alleged behavior. In interviews with investigators, some employees reportedly claimed Mr. Carrera routinely questioned female colleagues about their dating habits and that he made comments about the desirability of female co-workers and women he encountered at fundraising events, the report states.
USC launched an investigation into Mr. Carrera in August. He continued working on campus until USC placed him on administrative leave in September.
Mr. Carrera's departure follows the recent resignation of former Keck medical school Dean Rohit Varma, MD, who similarly resigned last week after multiple reports surfaced stating Dr. Varma allegedly sexually harassed a female colleague in 2002. USC and Dr. Varma reportedly settled the case with the unidentified woman in 2003 and paid her an estimated $135,000.
Dr. Varma's predecessor, former medical school Dean Carmen Puliafito, MD, resigned from his position last March. He is currently under investigation by multiple authorities regarding alleged drug misuse.
USC Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Michael W. Quick, PhD, wrote in a letter to the campus community Oct. 10 the university plans to create a new vice president provost position to "provide leadership training and to evaluate their performance," according to the report.
Dr. Quick said USC will also establish an ombuds office to field complaints and help manage "difficult situations that arise in the workplace," the report states.