(Reuters) - Penn State University's board of trustees has accepted the resignation of Steven Garban, the man who chaired the board when the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal broke.

In a letter posted to the board's website on Thursday evening, PSU Trustees Chairwoman Karen Peetz said: Earlier today I accepted Steve Garban's resignation from the Board of Trustees. I want to sincerely thank him for his many years of service to Penn State University and for the leadership he exhibited today.

Garban's resignation marks the first by a board member since the scandal erupted last year. Sandusky was convicted last month of 45 counts of child molestation and endangerment involving 10 boys.

(Reporting by Mark Shade; Writing by Dan Burns; Editing by Stacey Joyce)