URI Professor out of Classroom Following Criminal Charges

KINGSTON — As of Tuesday, University of Rhode Island professor John K. Dunn has been relieved of his teaching duties, pending the outcome of legal proceedings against him.

Dunn, 58, of 365 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett, is charged with three felony counts of fraud. Police allege Dunn obtained loans totaling more than $1 million from three creditors under false pretenses.

Dunn was arraigned Friday in Wakefield’s Fourth Division District Court and released on $10,000 personal recognizance. The case was referred to the state attorney general’s office for felony screening.

A local lawyer and an associate professor of business administration at the university since 1982, Dunn has taught courses focusing on the social, legal and ethical environment of business.   

The decision to remove Dunn from the classroom was reached by members of the departments of academic affairs and human resources, the administration and the university’s legal counsel, URI Director of Communications and Marketing Linda Acciardo said.  

“He will be given an alternate work assignment for the rest of the semester. For now we’re going to monitor this process here and see what develops as the criminal matter unfolds. There may be additional actions that the university may need to take in this matter, but for now, he has not been convicted, he’ll continue to be on the payroll but he will not be teaching in the classroom,” Acciardo said.  

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