I’ve been holding back for a long time on writing this. This is the first time, publicly, I’m sharing my perspective on the scandal that went down at Tufts University two+ years ago. It’s very personal for me, but something that I wanted to do because I’m ready for closure and need your help in making an important decision. So here goes.
November 14th, 2007 is a day that will forever be etched in my professional and personal life. The ACUI Regional Conference was starting and my dear friend and colleague, Erin Morrell and I were waiting in the hotel lobby for our 30+ International Delegates from Ireland and the UK to arrive. We had worked hard for months to pull together a fantastic program for them and it was just about to start.
Then, a phone call came from my friend Laura:
“Hello?”
“(crying, sobbing) Ed? Is that you?”
“Yes, Laura? What’s wrong!?! Why are you crying? Is everything OK?”
“No, it’s about Jodie. You need to sit down. I wanted you to hear this from me before it hit the papers tomorrow. Jodie has admitted to stealing over $300,000 from TSR (Tufts Student Resources business) and our department account. Apparently, she’s been doing it since 2000 or so.”
<silence>
“Ed? Did you hear what I just said?”
“WHAT?!? I can’t believe this, are you sure?”
“Yes, she just admitted it to the investigators.”
In that moment, my entire professional career seemed a fallacy.
Jodie Nealley was the Director of Student Activities at Tufts University and my first supervisor out of graduate school. She was my mentor. As the Assistant, and subsequently, Associate Director in the Office of Student Activities at Tufts, I worked closely with Jodie and our staff to build student life on campus. From 2000-2005, I served as adviser to the Programming Board and multiple Greek Organizations, and was also responsible for the building the Leadership Program. From 2005 – 2006, I was responsible for the operations of the Mayer Campus Center and worked closely with student employees. According to testimony, she started taking money slowly (due to a gambling addiction) and over the course of six years, the numbers added up. After hearing this news, I felt so stupid for not knowing this was happening right under our noses. How did we all miss this?
I was hurt and betrayed beyond anything I had ever felt before. This was worse than anything I ever thought I have experienced in Student Affairs.
At that time, many of my former students called and/or visited me to process what had happened. They wanted to go through the grieving process with me because the vision of Jodie as the mentor, friend, and supervisor they knew was no longer there.
As the story developed, we all learned that a second co-worker, Ray Rodriguez, was also charged with embezzling of over $600,000 of the Student Senate’s money. According to reports, both of them were stealing INDEPENDENTLY of each other. It was another punch to the gut and I was shell shocked for a long time. Honestly, I’ve never really gotten over this feeling of betrayal that I buried deep inside. However, last summer finally brought closure to the case, as both Jodie and Ray were found guilty and got two year prison sentences plus restitution obligations.
I thought I would find closure through the numerous conversations I had with students and staff, but I haven’t. Think about your professional MENTOR. How would you feel if you found out that during your time together, she or he lied to you everyday they worked with you? All of those staff meetings, retreats, one on one meetings, and “teachable moments” would be faded, stale memories.
However, I won’t allow this to tarnish the honest, hard work that the rest of the staff and students put in. I know the work we did was excellent and I believe that through our experiences together, I’m a better professional today.
Last week, I was contacted by a former Tufts staff member over Facebook chat. He told me that he visited Jodie in jail and shared with me that she looked better, had done a lot of reflecting, and wanted to relay a message to all of us that she was truly sorry and knows that she let us all down. He sent me Jodie’s mailing address as well as information on visiting if I chose to. He thought it would be good for me, but I’m not so sure. So far, he’s been the only person from Tufts to visit her, other than her partner and son. The last time I spoke with Jodie was when I served as a reference for Laura.
Part of me is curious and wants to go and confront her to give me “closure”. Another part of me wants to let things be, and just move on. I’m so torn.
What would you do?
More Online Articles About This Story:
http://www.tuftsdaily.com/alleged-embezzlers-arraigned-1.613895 (2008)
http://www.tuftsdaily.com/nealley-and-rodriguez-plead-not-guilty-during-arraignment-1.613284 (2008)
Thanks for reading and letting me share my story.
