Westfield State University has appointed an interim president after trustees put president Evan Dobell on paid administrative leave.
The Republican newspaper of Springfield reports Elizabeth Preston, the school's vice president for academic affairs, will lead Westfield at least until Nov. 25, when a Boston law firm hired to investigate Dobelle's expenditures is due to present its findings.
Trustees voted to suspend Dobelle early Thursday after a marathon meeting that was prompted by criticism that Dobelle charged personal expenses on university credit cards and spent lavishly on foreign travel.
Dobelle has defended his spending and is expected to file a federal lawsuit challenging the decision by trustees.
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