The Odd Case of a U-M Program, Middle East Money and Two Accused Professors
Attorney Margaret Cone set out to create a leadership program in 2008 for emerging religious scholars and leaders in the U.S and Middle East at her alma mater, the University of Michigan. The idea was to help American and Muslim students understand each other’s culture better.
After shuttling back and forth to the Middle East and Washington, Cone secured $2 million for the World Leadership Program from the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and nailed down a commitment from U-M Professor Sherman Jackson to run the program at the university's International Institute.
But in a federal lawsuit scheduled for trial later this year, Cone says Jackson, who is no longer at the school, and two others -- Professor Mark Tessler and administrator Dave Howell -- took about $300,000 of the funds to create and administer the program at U of M, but did no work and never intended to.
The program for 32 people -- 16 from the Middle East and 16 from the U.S. -- never began at the school and was moved to Georgetown University in Washington in the summer of 2010.
The unusual case involves an agreement that fell apart, spiced with ingredients not typically part of a contract dispute -- two professors and an administrator accused of duplicity, a university defending them and a foreign prince's funds being shifted around.
Read more: http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/19219/the_odd_case_of_a_u-m_program_middle_east_funds_and_2_accused_professors#.WnHLLXxG3RY
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machinations going on in the various states. Thanks for your great work TexasTowlie!
