 "Photo: Courtesy of UNC Charlotte")
The Chancellor of N.C. State University, Jim Oblinger, resigned Monday morning due to the continuing controversy surrounding the hiring of former First Lady Mary Easley, which lead to a slew of resignations from key members of N.C. State’s leadership.
Last month, both Provost Larry Nielsen and N.C. State University’s Board of Trustees Chairman McQueen Campbell submitted their resignations. Nielson cited “stress from the controversy” as the reason for his departure.
E-mails released by N.C. State indicated that Nielsen, Campbell, and then current Governor Mike Easley and top aides worked to secure Mary Easley’s position at the university.
Later on Monday, the N.C. State University Board of Trustees, at an emergency meeting, voted unanimously to terminate Mary Easley’s employment with the university. Easley was hired to lead a series of esteemed guest speakers and a public safety center.
According to the Charlotte Observer, Easley was to be paid $170,000 per year. She had four years left out of her five year contract that would pay a total of $850,000.
Oblinger’s resignation follows information indicating the discussion of details concerning Nielsen’s generous severance package; said discussion occurred before he officially resigned.
The deal Nielsen received includes the receipt of his full Provost salary through the rest of the fiscal year and also a staggered salary that would continue to pay him well above the standard professor’s salary through the end of the 2012 fiscal year. The average salary for a full professor at NCSU is $110,000 according to Jim Martin, a Chemistry Professor at the school in an article for the Raleigh News and Observer.
This new transitional salary package is both longer and more costly than stated in Nielsen’s original contract. The Board of Governors is launching a review of this package.
Dr. Jim Oblinger has served N.C. State for 23 years and has filled numerous positions such as: associate dean, dean, provost, executive vice chancellor and the chancellorship itself.
He will receive a six month paid leave of absence at his current salary and may resume his position as a tenured professor of food science with the normal departmental duties and pay. If he so chooses to return.
UNC Charlotte Chancellor Emeritus Dr. James H. “Jim” Woodward has been selected to act as interim chancellor at N.C. State until a permanent replacement can be found.
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