PRISCILLA SLADE

Dr. 'Priscilla Dean Slade' has been President of Texas Southern University since October 27, 1999. She holds a Ph. D. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.
As of late March 2006, Dr. Slade has been at the forefront of a money spending scandal involving using Texas Southern University money to fund landscaping done at her home, furniture (including a $9,000 bed and $48,000 worth of China), expensive trips, and manicures (including one visit that cost $2,500) among other things. The investigation and appeals process was reviewed by the Board of Regents on June 7, 2006 and they concluded to terminate her contract effective June 17, 2006. Dr. Bobby Wilson will serve as acting president of the University in the meantime.

Contents

Termination

External links

Termination

As of April 18, 2006, Priscilla Slade had been relieved of her duties as President of Texas Southern University. Her firing, though official, is not final. Her contract has a clause stipulating that she is allowed a public hearing to attempt to overturn the Board of Regents' ruling. She intends to do so. During this time, she is still on paid leave.
As of June 17, 2006, Priscilla Slade was officially terminated as President of Texas Southern University. Dr. Bobby Wilson will serve as acting president as the University searches for a new President.
On August 1st, 2006 Slade was indicted on two first degree felony charges by the Harris County District Attorney's office.
Slade's criminal trial will be late August 2007. She will be defended by famous defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin.
The trial for Priscilla Slade, the former president of financially troubled Texas Southern University, began Monday, August 20, 2007 in a downtown Houston courtroom, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Slade, an accounting professor and former dean of the business school, was indicted last year on two counts of misapplication of fiduciary property with a value over $200,000. Prosecutors said they plan to try her for only one of the counts.
A pool of 120 people began filling out questionnaires in the case Monday, August 20, 2007. Some of the questions ask about the news coverage the potential viewers were exposed to. The questioning isn't expected to start until Tuesday and could take several days.
Testimony could last a month or longer. Among the witnesses is U.S. Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson, who was on the TSU Board of Regents when Slade was hired as president in 1999.
Slade faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted.
Defense attorneys asked for a change of venue, but were denied.
With an affinity for clothing and shoes from Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and St. John, Slade would sometimes spend up to $4,600 at a time at Neiman Marcus, according to court records. At TSU parties, she served Johnny Walker Blue Label, a luxury whiskey that can cost $200 or more a bottle.
She lavishly furnished her $1.2 million home with a sofa worth more than $17,800, a nearly $9,200 bed and a $5,600 coffee table.
But she may have paid for all this with money from the historically black university.
"The prosecution's primary focus will be that her tastes were too extravagant for the school," said Mike DeGeurin, Slade's attorney. "I believe that effort is more of a character assassination than it is relevant to the facts and the purpose and spirit of the law they claim she violated."
Prosecutors say that over seven years, Slade spent more than half a million dollars to decorate, remodel and repair the homes she had during her tenure at the university.

External links

★ Houston Chronicle Article on Scandal

★ Dr. Slade Biography via tsu.edu

★ Call Of Da Wild Blog Now infamous blog that tracks the many scandals at TSU by someone who appears to be an employee

★ Dr. Bobby Mills for TSU Dr. Bobby Mills, who is a big foe of Bobby Wilson and Gayla Thomas, is running a campaign for TSU presidency

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