EAST LANSING — Scott Westerman, former associate vice president for alumni relations and executive director of the Michigan State University Alumni Association, made an unwanted sexual advance towards a woman in December 2011, according to a university investigation.

He also sent the woman "multiple communications of a sexual, intimate and romantic nature in the form of email and text messages," according to a report on the investigation obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

MSU's investigation concluded that Westerman's conduct was "severe, persistent, and pervasive" and that Westerman had violated the university's policy on sexual harassment, the report said.

Westerman could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday night. In August, after MSU first announced the finding that he had violated university policy, Westerman said: "I disagree with the findings and regret the distraction it has caused."

MSU received the complaint in February. Westerman notified university officials in April he planned to leave his position and move to Florida to be closer to family and return to the private sector.

After meeting in August 2010, the woman told investigators that the two developed a close "mentorship" relationship that later became "father like." Westerman brought her presents when he traveled and gave her money for "groceries and things," the woman told investigators.

Westerman also sent the woman "texts and articles" on sexual topics between 2010 and 2012, the woman told investigators.

The situation escalated in December 2011, the woman told investigators, when Westerman made sexual advances toward her in a hotel room.

She worked to distance herself from Westerman afterward, according to the report. She also reported meeting another woman who reported having a similar "mentorship" relationship with Westerman before distancing herself.

The woman decided to come forward after Westerman contacted her about reaching out to the MSU Sexual Assault Program and Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Program.

"Claimant stated that she felt that given the sexual harassment she experienced, Respondent was not the appropriate person to be working on this important problem at the university."

When questioned by investigators in March, Westerman said he'd had prior training on sexual harassment and was careful in relationships.

"Respondent stated that in the past, "people couldn't believe that women couldn't get to a position of power without "hanky panky" and we had an investigation, nothing came out of it, so I learned what I needed to do to protect myself. I was very clear about the type of relationship I wanted to have with her (Claimant), a parental one," the report states.

Westerman told investigators the relationship never turned romantic. He also said emails with content about sex and relationships were examples of him sharing "advice and information that might be of interest to Claimant."

Asked about the 2011 hotel incident, Westerman told investigators "I don't remember, but I wouldn't have done that. I don't recall."

Westerman admitted to giving the woman $800 for holiday presents in December of 2011. Westerman said he wanted to support the woman and provided reassurance and advice that she expressed appreciation for at the time.

MSU’s Office of Institutional Equity concluded that based on the evidence Westerman’s conduct was unwelcomed and that his conduct was severe, persistent and pervasive based on the hotel incident and the communications about love and sex. It also caused unreasonable interference with the woman’s work performance, causing a hostile environment, MSU concluded.

The 50-page report contains numerous redacted sentences and paragraphs. It is dated Aug. 22, 2018. The report doesn’t note whether either party appealed the report’s findings.

Check back for updates.

Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.