A Florida State House candidate got a lesson in integrity when she got called out for using a doctored diploma from Miami University to claim that she graduated from the school.
Melissa Howard admitted that she lied about receiving a bachelor of science in marketing from the school — two days after it disputed her claims, saying it had no record of her graduating.
“I would like to apologize to my family and my supporters for this situation. It was not my intent to deceive or mislead anyone,” Howard, a Republican running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 73, wrote on Facebook.
“I made a mistake in saying that I completed my degree. What I did was wrong and set a bad example for someone seeking public service.”
Howard, 46, vowed to stay in the race and “lead by example from now on.”
The diploma debacle began when FLA News published a story claiming she wasn’t a college graduate, prompting the candidate to claim she traveled to her alleged alma mater to obtain a copy of her college transcript.
The wannabe politician then uploaded a photo of herself sitting alongside a framed Miami University degree — supposed proof that she’d graduated.
FLA News issued a correction — but it was short-lived.
In issuing a statement to set the record straight, Miami University said Howard’s diploma was actually a dupe and noted several discrepancies on it.
The school told CNN she did attend the school from August 1990 to May 1994 under her maiden name, Melissa Marie Fox — but never actually graduated.
Howard’s “diploma” listed a bachelor of science in marketing and a 1996 graduation date, but a BS in marketing doesn’t exist, the school explained.
Marketing majors instead receive a bachelor of science in business.
Howard majored in retailing at Miami University and would have received a bachelor of science in family and consumer sciences — had she graduated, according to the school.
The bogus diploma also featured signatures by James Garland, the president of the university in 1996, and Robert C. Johnson, the dean of the graduate school — which would not have been the proper school, the university said.
All told, Miami University confirmed that Howard’s certificate “does not appear to be an accurate Miami University diploma.”
In her biography on her website, Howard said she’s the first in her family to go to college and after graduation “worked for large (Marriott and Microsoft) and small and small companies before launching her own marketing business that today serves clients throughout the world.”
Howard didn’t respond to CNN for comment.