Fashion designer and Youngstown native Nanette Lepore has announced that she will be following fellow native Ed O'Neill in returning her honorary degree from Youngstown State University in response to University Trustees' recent selection of Valley Congressman Bill Johnson as the university's new president.

In a letter sent to University Trustees, Lepore described Johnson as a political figure known for his "extremist" views and a "blatant affront" to everything her father, a professor at the university cherished about YSU.

"My father, an impassioned artist and YSU professor dedicated 40 years toward creating an art department that was robust and dynamic. This instilled in me a profound respect for the noble mission of public education. One that values pursuit of knowledge and encourages the arts and self-expression. Today however, YSU stands accused of betraying its core values," the letter reads.

"YSU was once a beacon of opportunity for so many. The pursuit of education has been replaced by a pursuit of political agendas that have nothing to do with the true purpose of this institution. This is not the YSU I knew. This is not the YSU my father devoted his life to. This is not the YSU that deserves the respect and admiration of its community," the letter continued.

In late November, shortly after Johnson's appointment as president, "Modern Family" and "Married... With Children" star and Valley native Ed O'Neill had announced that he too is giving back his honorary degree in response to the decision.

Numerous alumni and donors have also threatened to pull donations to the university and others have expressed their desire to have their names removed from university buildings in response to the decision.

Lepore's full letter can be read in the PDF below.