UNLV literary institute director resigns after appearing naked in bath for Zoom meeting

An artistic and executive director at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has resigned from his post, after reportedly appearing naked in a bath during a Zoom meeting.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Joshua Wolf Shenk, who held leadership positions at UNLV’s Black Mountain Institute and the Believer magazine, wrote a farewell letter to the groups, saying he is stepping down following a “dumb, reckless choice to disregard appropriate setting and attire for a Zoom meeting.”

“I crossed a line that I can’t walk back over. I sorely regret the harm to you — and, by extension, to the people we serve. I’m sorry,” Shenk wrote.

Shenk notified the Black Mountain Institute and Believer magazine staff of his resignation on March 24, Natalie Bruzda, a UNLV media relations specialist, confirmed to The Hill.

She would not, however, disclose any additional information, writing “Beyond that, the university doesn’t discuss personnel matters.”

The incident in question reportedly occurred in early February during a meeting with about a dozen staff members of the institute and magazine, the Times reported, citing three sources in the meeting.

Shenk was reportedly soaking in a bathtub with Epsom salts during the meeting to help ease nerve pain brought on by fibromyalgia, the newspaper reported, citing his adviser Ira Silverberg, who is also a literary agent and editor.

Shenk allegedly used a virtual background to hide his location and wore a mesh shirt, but ultimately exposed himself when he stood up to plug in his computer, which ran out of battery. He reportedly thought his camera was off when he stood up.

According to the Times, Shenk immediately reported the incident.

“After my lapse in judgment, I decided to resign so that BMI’s work — sparking culture in Southern Nevada, publishing The Believer, and hosting writers persecuted in their home countries — could best continue in their exceptionally capable hands,” he said in a statement to the paper.

The Hill has reached out to Shenk, UNLV, the Black Mountain Institute and the Believer magazine for comment.

Updated 7:42 p.m.