By Olivia Krauth–

In an email to U of L employees, President James Ramsey announced executive vice president for health affairs Dr. David Dunn and VP of IT Priscilla Hancock will be on leave effective immediately.

“By now you may be aware of the investigation being conducted by the University of Louisville Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Ramsey said around 4:45 p.m. today. “I want to share with each of you the information I am allowed to provide as the investigation proceeds.”

Yesterday, it was reported that Dunn, Hancock and a former U of L official were being investigated for potential misuse of grant money.

Vice dean of clinical affairs Dr. Gregory Postel will be the interim EVP for health affairs. COO Harlan Sands will lead the IT department.

According to Ramsey, the investigation began with ULPD in 2014. Federal authorities joined the case this year. Ramsey said the authorities requested that U of L avoid discussing the case.

“This is an ongoing investigation, and we must respect the process,” Ramsey said. “I ask each of you to stay focused on doing our very best each day for this great university; our students and our community need that.”

Former U of L alumni director Deborah Dietzler was the last U of L official to be publicly placed on leave after reports of misuse of taxpayer money at her old job at UGA surfaced. She resigned three days later.