Veteran West Virginia University professor William N. Trumbull was named interim dean of the business school, succeeding R. Stephen Sears, who resigned the post because of his role in awarding a fraudulent M.B.A. degree last fall to Mylan Inc. executive Heather Bresch.

Dr. Trumbull, who takes over July 1, has been with WVU for 25 years, the last 10 as director of the division of economics and finance. Dr. Sears has said he plans to remain at WVU to teach.

"This is a time when our major goal will be to undertake a process of healing and reconnection with our constituencies," Mr. Trumbull said in a news release.