MIT Dean Lies About Her Resume & Gets Fired - 28 years later

[LadyT]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americ...ean/index.html

"The dean of admissions at one of America's most prestigious schools resigned on Thursday after the university discovered she had lied about her academic credentials............Jones was named dean of admissions at MIT in 1997 and received MIT's highest award for administrators, the "MIT Excellence Award for Leading Change." She was also the 2006 winner of the "Gordon Y Billard Award" given "for special service of outstanding merit" performed for the school."

She must be pretty smart to have pulled it off. She probably bragged to the wrong people or she had a jealous ex.

[Cancel7]

This was an amazing story wasn't it?

Someone tipped the university to it last week. I was wondering who.

[Cypress]

I could never understand why someone lies about their academic credentials. It wouldn't even occur to me to pad them on a resume. I mean, I'm sure this woman wasn't a high school drop out. She must have had some type of college degree(s).

[Topspin]

they said she didn't have a degree from any of the three schools she listed so she's prob non degreed.
I've seen this a few times before and almost always they are non degreed.
Sad, but facts are facts escpecially lying in an admissions office where she has to turn kids down daily.

[LadyT]

I think Top is right. My boyfriend's uncle does that and he's conned himself to being a sales exec at many companies. And apparently is doing pretty well.

I wonder how many more years she would have until she was able to collect a pension. I kind of feel sorry for her. She was obviously qualified despite not having the background but that's life and that's why you don't lie about stuff like.

[OrnotBitwise]

I think Top is right. My boyfriend's uncle does that and he's conned himself to being a sales exec at many companies. And apparently is doing pretty well.

I wonder how many more years she would have until she was able to collect a pension. I kind of feel sorry for her. She was obviously qualified despite not having the background but that's life and that's why you don't lie about stuff like.

She's probably qualified but that's no slam-dunk. Not even a George Tenet slam-dunk. Too many bad administrators hang on year after year in academia. I've seen it often and I'm sure Trog has too.

She lied and I suppose that's probably a firing offense. If, however, her job performance has been above average over the years, I honestly think she ought to be given a break by the University.

We're beginning to become more like Europe in at least one negative way. More and more American institutions -- academic, business and governmental -- are beginning to rate credentials -- and lack of credentials -- over performance.

[LadyT]

We're beginning to become more like Europe in at least one negative way. More and more American institutions -- academic, business and governmental -- are beginning to rate credentials -- and lack of credentials -- over performance.

A friend of mine from Paris was in teh city last night and we were talking about this very thing. She's 28 and was studying math for years and in order for her to get a job in finance, she had to back and take finance classes and get a masters. I'm like, "are you kidding me?" But you've hit the nail on the head. I too would be inclined to give her abreak, but I'm lefty who's soft on crime...what do I know?

[Damocles]

If she has performed well over 28 years of service I would not fire her for padding the resume to get the original job. I value results over credentials in every case.

[TRGLDTE]

She won the highest award for service, so she was obviously very capable. Damn shame.

[OrnotBitwise]

She won the highest award for service, so she was obviously very capable. Damn shame.

Good point. I missed that little nugget the first time.

[uscitizen]

I think Top is right. My boyfriend's uncle does that and he's conned himself to being a sales exec at many companies. And apparently is doing pretty well.

I wonder how many more years she would have until she was able to collect a pension. I kind of feel sorry for her. She was obviously qualified despite not having the background but that's life and that's why you don't lie about stuff like.

All successful sales people are con artists....

[TRGLDTE]

Good point. I missed that little nugget the first time.

The situation totally sucks - she likely would not have been hired without the degrees she lied about. Once in the job though, looking at a variety of sources, she accomplished the goals rather well.

[Thorn]

The situation totally sucks - she likely would not have been hired without the degrees she lied about. Once in the job though, looking at a variety of sources, she accomplished the goals rather well.

I agree. There should be the equivalent of a statute of limitations applied here. As pointed out, she'd received awards for the quality of her work and apparently had done her job for 28 years with no problems. Reprimanded, perhaps, though the embarrassment of the publicity should be reprimand enough. Firing or forced resignation -- not under the circumstances.

[LadyT]

I'm still wondering who spilled the beans. I wonder if she's recently divorced?

[LadyT]

Disgruntled rejected applicant?

Maybe she got drunk one night and started running her mouth?

....I could go on.