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PROVO — A former adjunct professor at Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University is facing criminal charges.
Michio Zushi, 55, of Orem, was charged last month with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. He is accused of inappropriately touching a 12-year-old girl. The girl reported that the abuse took place between August 2010 and August 2011. Zushi admitted the conduct to police, according to charging documents filed in 4th District Court.
BYU spokesman Todd Hollingshead said Zushi was an adjunct professor who taught one class this past semester, which spans January through April. As soon as the university became aware of the charges, however, the man was no longer teaching.
"He is no longer a current employee at BYU," Hollingshead said Tuesday. "His contract will not be renewed."
Zushi began teaching at the school in 1999. According to his BYU directory entry, which has since been removed, Zushi had taught in the Asian and Near Eastern Languages Department in the school's College of Humanities.
The UVU website also lists a Michio Zushi as an adjunct faculty member teaching Japanese calligraphy. Multiple messages left for UVU were not returned Tuesday.
A LinkedIn profile for a Michio Zushi indicates that he taught calligraphy at both universities, starting at BYU in 1999 and UVU in 2009.
His next court hearing is set for May 19.
