University of Michigan OIE Record Shows “Nick Bee” Allegations Against Dr. Myria Petrou Were Reported but Never Fully Resolved

This record examines a University of Michigan Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) memorandum documenting false allegations attributed to “Nick Bee” and the University’s handling of those claims.

A University of Michigan memorandum documents that an individual known as “Nick Bee” made false sexual and criminal allegations against Dr. Myria Petrou.

Those allegations were supported by email evidence and recorded conversations—yet the identity of “Nick Bee” was never determined, key individuals were not interviewed, and the matter was not fully resolved.

University of Michigan OIE Memorandum: Sexual Harassment Complaint Involving Dr. Myria Petrou

Timeline of Key Events

June 2017 — Dr. Myria Petrou reports “Nick Bee” allegations to Chair, Dr. Reed Dunnick, and requests investigation
November 7, 2017 — Initial meeting with Office for Institutional Equity (OIE)
February 7, 2018 — Follow-up meeting with OIE
March–June 2018 — OIE attempts to interview Dr. Paul Cronin (multiple requests)
July 2018 — OIE interviews departmental leadership
October 1, 2018 — OIE memorandum issued (day after Dr. Petrou’s resignation)
November 2018 — OIE memorandum introduced for the first time during formal dismissal proceedings against her husband, Dr. Bradley Foerster, by the Medical Dean’s outside attorney, Dan Tukel

Overview

This record documents a sexual harassment complaint brought by Dr. Myria Petrou, an Assistant Professor of Radiology, concerning a series of false and damaging allegations attributed to an individual identified as “Nick Bee.”

The memorandum reflects that these allegations included claims of a sexual relationship with Dr. Paul Cronin, false assertions of paternity, and other reputationally damaging statements communicated within the department.

These allegations were reported to the University and to the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE)—the University’s Title IX office—and were accompanied by supporting materials, including email communications and recorded conversations.

Access to the OIE Memorandum

The memorandum is dated October 1, 2018, one day after Dr. Petrou’s resignation.

Dr. Myria Petrou was not provided a copy of the memorandum at the time it was issued.

The report later appeared within the University record in November 2018, when it was introduced for the first time in formal dismissal proceedings against her husband, Dr. Bradley Foerster, by the Medical Dean’s outside attorney, Dan Tukel.

Documented Allegations

The OIE memorandum explicitly records that Dr. Petrou reported that an individual known as “Nick Bee” was making false allegations, including that:

she had a sexual relationship with Dr. Paul Cronin
Dr. Cronin was the father of one of her children

These allegations were presented to the University as part of a formal complaint and were identified as a basis for both harassment and retaliation concerns.

Request for Investigation

The memorandum reflects that in 2017, Dr. Myria Petrou reported that an individual known as “Nick Bee” was making false allegations against her, including claims involving Dr. Paul Cronin and false assertions of paternity.

Dr. Myria Petrou further reported that she asked that the matter be investigated, and that this request was declined.

The memorandum also reflects that when OIE raised this issue with Dr. Reed Dunnick, he did not recall Dr. Myria Petrou reporting the matter or requesting an investigation.

Dr. Myria Petrou further offered to provide OIE with a recording reflecting that she had reported these matters to Dr. Reed Dunnick; OIE indicated that it did not require the recording.

OIE Investigation Efforts

As part of its review, OIE attempted to obtain information from Dr. Paul Cronin, who was identified as having direct knowledge of the underlying allegations.

The memorandum reflects that OIE sent numerous requests seeking to interview Dr. Cronin between March and June 2018.

Dr. Paul Cronin did not make himself available for interview despite repeated requests.

Office of General Counsel Involvement

The memorandum further reflects that the University’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC), including Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Kara Morgenstern and Christine Gerdes, undertook efforts to identify the individual referred to as “Nick Bee.”

The University had in its possession:

an August 14, 2017 email attributed to “Nick Bee”
recordings of phone conversations involving an individual using that identity

OGC identified several individuals with similar names and conducted interviews of selected physicians. Based on those interviews and voice comparisons, OGC concluded that those individuals were not “Nick Bee.”

The identity of “Nick Bee” was not determined.

Scope of Inquiry

Although OGC undertook efforts to identify “Nick Bee,” the memorandum reflects a limited scope of inquiry.

Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Bradley Foerster were not interviewed as part of the OGC process and were not aware that the Office of the General Counsel was conducting this review.

The memorandum does not reflect that Dr. Paul Cronin was contacted or interviewed by the Office of the General Counsel as part of this process.

Statements in Formal Proceedings

During formal dismissal proceedings, the Medical Dean’s outside attorney, Dan Tukel, stated that Dr. Foerster had asserted that no investigation had been conducted into the identity of “Nick Bee,” and responded that the University had, in fact, undertaken such an investigation, referencing the OIE report.

However, the individuals directly associated with the underlying allegations were not aware at the time that the Office of the General Counsel had undertaken this review and were not contacted as part of that process.

Documentation Summary

The OIE memorandum documents that:

false allegations were reported involving “Nick Bee”
supporting evidence existed, including email communications and recorded conversations
the University undertook efforts to identify the individual
certain individuals were interviewed and excluded
Dr. Paul Cronin was repeatedly contacted by OIE but did not make himself available for interview

At the same time, the record reflects that:

a request to investigate was declined at the departmental level
Dr. Reed Dunnick did not recall the report or request for investigation
key individuals were not interviewed in the OGC process
the identity of “Nick Bee” was not determined

Taken together, the record reflects that serious allegations were documented and partially investigated, but not fully developed or resolved.

Exhibits

Exhibit 1 — OIE Memorandum (Allegations and “Nick Bee” Claims)

Exhibit 1: OIE memorandum page identifying the core allegations, including claims involving Dr. Paul Cronin and false assertions of paternity.

Exhibit 2 — OIE Memorandum (Request for Investigation, Declined, and Cronin Non-Response)

Exhibit 2: OIE memorandum pages reflecting Dr. Petrou’s report of “Nick Bee,” the request for investigation, and repeated but unsuccessful efforts to interview Dr. Paul Cronin.

Exhibit 3 — OIE Memorandum (OGC Investigation of “Nick Bee”)

University of Michigan OIE memorandum documenting false Nick Bee allegations against Dr Myria Petrou #4

University of Michigan OIE memorandum documenting false Nick Bee allegations against Dr Myria Petrou #5

Exhibit 3: OIE memorandum pages describing the Office of the General Counsel’s review of email and recordings, identification of possible “Nick B” individuals, and exclusion of those individuals.

Exhibit 4 — OIE Memorandum (Assessment and Conclusion)

University of Michigan OIE memorandum documenting false Nick Bee allegations against Dr Myria Petrou #6

Exhibit 4: OIE memorandum assessment and conclusion pages addressing the available evidence, lack of key testimony, and final determination.

Exhibit 5 — Transcript (Formal Dismissal Proceedings, November 2018)

Excerpt from formal dismissal proceedings against Dr. Bradley Foerster, in which the Medical Dean’s outside attorney, Dan Tukel, addressed the University’s handling of allegations concerning “Nick Bee.”

“Dr. Foerster said that nobody ever looked into this issue of who this purported Nick B was… So there was, in fact, an investigation into this person…”

The full transcript pages are provided below for reference.

Dan Transcript page showing Tukel statement about Nick Bee investigation #1

Dan Transcript page showing Tukel statement about Nick Bee investigation #2

Exhibit 5: Transcript excerpt reflecting statements regarding investigation of “Nick Bee” during formal dismissal proceedings.

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Brad Foerster, MD PhD

Brad Foerster is a FOIA advocate documenting requests, transparency disputes, and accountability investigations involving public agencies, universities, police oversight, and Russia-Gate related inquiries. His work compiles original documents, timelines, and analysis of public records and institutional responses. Brad is also a board-certified radiologist, author of Town & Gown, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Brad lives in Potomac, Maryland with his family and is active in the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.