Priscilla Slade was President of Texas Southern University in Houston. An August 30 article in the Houston Chronicle reports that:

"The board fired Slade after the university's attorneys concluded that she failed to follow university policies and state laws to buy more than $260,000 in furniture, landscaping and security equipment for her house. A criminal investigation later revealed more than $1.9 million spent over Slade's tenure, including artwork, club memberships, spa treatments and tickets for sporting events. The two felony charges against her carry a potential penalty of life in prison."

Just in case common sense should not prevail, the US Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations give pretty clear guidance in this matter. "The organization shall use reasonable efforts not to include within the substantial authority personnel of the organization any individual whom the organization knew, or should have known through the exercise of due diligence, has engaged in illegal activities or other conduct inconsistent with an effective compliance and ethics program."

It doesn't take much due diligence to know that Slade does not embody conduct consistent with teaching accounting. But there you have it. I am sure that companies in Houston, still feeling burned by Enron, will be rushing to hire TSU grads taught by Ms. Slade.