HARRISBURG — The head of the fundraising arm of Pennsylvania's student aid agency has been fired in a dispute over his travel expenses, according to a published report.

The board of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation voted unanimously Monday to terminate Michael Hershock from his $150,000-a-year jobs as its president and chief executive officer, citing a "willful breach of the president's fiduciary duty involving personal profits," The Patriot-News reported Tuesday.

Hershock's lawyer, Walter Cohen, accused the board of "totally disregarding" the terms of his client's contract, but said he was unsure whether they would pursue legal action challenging the firing.

The board plans to meet today to appoint a successor to Hershock.

The foundation is a nonprofit operated by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, which itself has come under fire in recent years for its spending.

The foundation board began questioning Hershock's travel expenses when it reviewed records that The Patriot-News of Harrisburg had requested.