An entrance to Michigan State University located in East Lansing, Michigan. Photo: Katherine Welles/Shutterstock.com

It's a new year, but the fallout from the Nassar sexual abuse scandal at Michigan State University continues as the school announced a new acting president has taken over, and a former president faces a Jan. 31 criminal hearing.

Satish Udpa on Thursday became acting president, replacing John Engler, a former Michigan governor who was accused of badmouthing abuse victims during his year in the post. Engler had offered to resign next week, but the board of trustees didn't want to wait.

The decision came after the Detroit News reported last week that, during a Detroit News editorial board meeting, Engler said some victims were “enjoying” the spotlight as they were being recognized nationally for their courage in speaking out about the abuse.

John Engler. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/Legal Times.

Engler had twice before been chastised by the board for his insensitivity to the victims, including once making a settlement offer to a victim without her attorney present and then writing an email that suggested the lead victim was likely getting a “kickback” from her attorney for recruiting other women into a lawsuit.

Udpa is expected to be more diplomatic. Board chairperson Dianne Byrum said in a statement, “To the survivors, the entire board of trustees extends our remorse over the regretful comments Engler has made. We are diligently seeking a new leader to continue our healing and guide our campus to achieve our aspirations in integrity, inclusion, research and education.”

A statement from Udpa, the school's executive vice president for administrative services, said, “I'm honored to serve as the acting president of MSU. I am eager to work with the board during this transition, helping the university move forward.”

MSU continues its search for a permanent president after previous president Lou Anna Simon resigned amid the notoriety sparked when MSU sports doctor Larry Nassar was publicly accused in 2016 of sexually abusing student athletes.

Nassar was later convicted and is serving, in effect, a lifetime sentence in prison. Last May MSU agreed to pay $500 million to settle lawsuits from more than 300 women victims. The scandal led to several other departures at the school, including longtime general counsel Robert Noto and later acting general counsel Kristine Zayko.

Meanwhile Simon faces a Jan. 31 hearing on criminal charges that she lied to police about her knowledge of sex abuse allegations against Nassar in 2014. She was charged last month.

Simon was the third and latest MSU employee to be charged as part of an investigation by the state attorney general's office. All three cases are pending.

William Strampel, former dean of osteopathic medicine and Nassar's supervisor, was charged last March for his actions during and after a 2014 Title IX investigation of Nassar.

Former MSU gymnastics coach Kathie Klages was charged in August with lying to police about her knowledge of sexual assault complaints against Nassar prior to 2016.