Palo Alto politician admits to affair with student when she was a star Stanford dean

A Palo Alto politician and bestselling author who tells parents how to raise emotionally healthy children is admitting to a yearlong sexual affair with a student while she was a dean at Stanford University 13 years ago.

Julie Lythcott-Haims, who serves on the Palo Alto City Council, on Friday confirmed the relationship, which was happening as Stanford honored her in 2010 with an award for contributions to undergraduate education. Five years later, her book “How to Raise an Adult” became a New York Times bestseller, drawing praise for the author’s “deep compassion” for young people.

“Being in a relationship with a student was inappropriate when it happened 13 years ago, and it would be inappropriate now,” Lythcott-Haims said in a statement noting that her intimate liaison with the student lasted a year and that she resigned from her Stanford job as a result.

Lythcott-Haims had been dean of freshmen and undergraduate advising, as well as associate vice provost for undergraduate education. She left in 2012 after 14 years with the university. Stanford officials, who knew the true reason for her departure, allowed her to say she was pursuing a master’s degree in fine arts.




https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/celebrity-politician-admits-affair-stanford-19570397.php