MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Charleston attorney Steve Goodwin has resigned after seven years on West Virginia University's Board of Governors, two as chairman.

In a letter Monday to Gov. Joe Manchin, Goodwin didn't say why he was leaving before his term ended; it was set to expire on June 30, 2010. He said only that he was grateful for the chance to serve.

Manchin wished him well, as did WVU President James Clements and Carolyn Long, the Braxton County schools superintendent who replaced Goodwin as the board's leader last summer.

Goodwin was first appointed to the WVU board in 2002 by Gov. Bob Wise, then reappointed by Manchin and elected chairman in 2006.

He was at the helm in 2007 and 2008 when the campus was rocked by a degree scandal involving Heather Bresch, Manchin's daughter, over a master's degree she didn't earn. President Mike Garrison ultimately resigned, while others in the administration were demoted or took other jobs. Goodwin continued to defend Garrison throughout the Bresch controversy.

Garrison's appointment was criticized as a political one from the start, and several Garrison opponents said Goodwin -- whose son was Manchin's general counsel and whose sister-in-law is Manchin's secretary for education and the arts -- should step down from the board as well. Goodwin refused to do so, although he did announced that he would not run for another term as chairman shortly before Garrison resigned.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Charleston attorney Steve Goodwin has resigned after seven years on West Virginia University's Board of Governors, two as chairman.

In a letter Monday to Gov. Joe Manchin, Goodwin didn't say why he was leaving before his term ended; it was set to expire on June 30, 2010. He said only that he was grateful for the chance to serve.

Manchin wished him well, as did WVU President James Clements and Carolyn Long, the Braxton County schools superintendent who replaced Goodwin as the board's leader last summer.

Goodwin was first appointed to the WVU board in 2002 by Gov. Bob Wise, then reappointed by Manchin and elected chairman in 2006.

He was at the helm in 2007 and 2008 when the campus was rocked by a degree scandal involving Heather Bresch, Manchin's daughter, over a master's degree she didn't earn. President Mike Garrison ultimately resigned, while others in the administration were demoted or took other jobs. Goodwin continued to defend Garrison throughout the Bresch controversy.

Garrison's appointment was criticized as a political one from the start, and several Garrison opponents said Goodwin -- whose son was Manchin's general counsel and whose sister-in-law is Manchin's secretary for education and the arts -- should step down from the board as well. Goodwin refused to do so, although he did announced that he would not run for another term as chairman shortly before Garrison resigned.