West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin is nominating a renowned scientist and retired college administrator to serve on the West Virginia University Board of Governors as the state's flagship institution recovers from an academic scandal involving the governor's daughter.

Mr. Manchin said he intends to nominate retired Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Charles M. Vest to a four-year term beginning July 1. Dr. Vest, 66, is a Morgantown native, president of the National Academy of Engineering and was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President Bush in 2006.

The governor must fill two other vacancies on the 16-member board after June 30, when the terms of three current members expire.

"Dr. Vest is a world-renowned leader, scholar, researcher and teacher who will bring a tremendous amount of insight and experience to the board's efforts," Mr. Manchin said.

Dr. Vest was out of the country and could not immediately be reached for comment.

The announcement comes nearly three weeks after WVU President Mike Garrison said he will step down as president Sept. 1. Faculty, students, alumni and donors had called for his resignation in the wake of an investigative panel's decision that the university awarded an M.B.A. degree to Mylan Inc. executive Heather Bresch that she did not earn.

Ms. Bresch is Gov. Manchin's daughter and a long-time friend of Mr. Garrison, who reported to Ms. Bresch as a one-time lobbyist for Mylan. The Cecil-based generic drug maker's chairman, Milan Puskar, is WVU's biggest benefactor.

First Published: June 25, 2008, 7:30 p.m.