Chancellor James Oblinger said his involvement with former First Lady Mary Easley’s hiring was nothing out of the ordinary Wednesday after a groundbreaking event for the Hillsborough Street renovation project which began earlier this month.
Oblinger said he was involved with Provost Larry Nielsen’s hiring but added there was “no connection” between Easley’s hiring and Nielsen’s.
Nielsen, the interim provost in 2005, was not among the candidates for the permanent provost position until after he hired Easley as an executive-in-residence with the University.
Oblinger said Nielsen did not express interest in the permanent position, but “grew to love” the position before being announced as the permanent provost.
Oblinger and Nielsen will appear in court tomorrow to testify before a federal grand jury as part of a federally issued subpoena for Easley’s employment records.
