Professor Leaves NYU Post Amid Sexual Misconduct Investigation

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A Dartmouth professor currently under investigation for sexual misconduct has left his post as a visiting scholar at NYU.

Todd Heatherton, who began an unpaid position as a visiting scholar at NYU in July, is one of three Dartmouth psychology professors on paid leave while law enforcement in New Hampshire investigate the trio for sexual misconduct.

The New Hampshire attorney general announced on Oct. 31 that his office and other agencies were investigating three Dartmouth professors for "allegations of sexual misconduct." Dartmouth identified the professors as Heatherton and his colleagues Bill Kelley and Paul Whalen, all of the school's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

The criminal probe was launched after an Oct. 25 report in The Dartmouth, the school's student newspaper, which reported that the three professors were on paid leave and had restricted access to campus.

Heatherton, 56, has been away from the Hanover campus since July, when he began a year-long sabbatical. As part of that sabbatical, he took a visiting scholar position at NYU, which he left on Oct. 26 "by mutual agreement," NYU spokesman John Beckman said in a statement.

"NYU was unaware of the Dartmouth investigation until quite recently," Beckman said. "The University was given no specifics about its nature or its duration."

Visiting scholars at NYU are not employees of the university and do not have teaching responsibilities, according to the NYU faculty handbook. They are unpaid.

The position "extends specified courtesy titles and privileges to scholars of distinction who visit New York University in order to engage in research and scholarship, and in general scholarly and cultural interaction with New York University’s faculty and students," according to the handbook.

Authorities have not released details about what Heatherton and his colleagues are accused of, except to say that it is unrelated to their research. The professors had all conducted research related to the psychology of sexual desire. A Dartmouth spokesperson said the three professors are facing separate allegations.

Heatherton's attorneys have said the investigation is related to an "out-of-state matter," and that their client is fully participating with investigators.

"Dr. Heatherton is confident that he has not violated any written policy of Dartmouth, including policies relating to sexual misconduct and sexual harassment," his attorneys said in a statement. "He has engaged in no sexual relations with any student."

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