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Univ. of Pa. Vice Dean Resigns Over ''Doctorate'' Claim

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A vice dean at the University of Pennsylvania resigned today after questions arose over whether he'd earned a doctoral degree.

Doug Lynch, vice dean of Penn's Graduate School of Education, was taken off the job over allegedly false claims that he'd earned his doctorate.

His résumé says he'd earned it from Columbia University in 2007, and his bio on the Fels Institute of Government's web page referred to him as "Dr. Lynch."

Columbia, though, says he has not yet earned his Ph. D.

After the Inquirer asked Penn president Amy Gutmann about the false claim, the university put Lynch on leave.

A university spokesperson provided a terse statement this afternoon acknowledging the resignation and saying it considers the matter closed.

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