George placed on third month of leave; BOR faces HEHS
By Christopher S. Pineo and Cindy Yurth
Navajo Times
CHINLE and WINDOW ROCK
Diné College’s state and federal funding could be jeopardized by the ongoing investigation into President Maggie George’s administration, a Diné College official told the Navajo Nation Council’s Health, Education and Human Services Committee Monday.
Darryl Begay, the college’s officer for government and external affairs, said both New Mexico State Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage (R-Dist. 4) and U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) had expressed concerns to him about the “governance situation” at the college, with Clahchischilliage stating “she would not approve any further appropriations for the college” until the administration is stable.
Clahchischilliage did not return a phone call to confirm that statement.
Begay said the college is expecting a $350,000 grant from the state for repairs at the north campus in Shiprock.
“Without political support from Representative Clahchischilliage, there is a threat to our funding,” he stated.
Begay said he had also received emails from both the White House Office of Tribal Colleges and Universities and Flake wanting assurance from tribal leadership that the leadership situation at the college will be resolved, which he noted he had forwarded to Committee Chair Jonathan Hale.
Diné College’s Board of Regents Friday placed college president Maggie George on a third straight month of administrative leave as an independent investigator looks into charges of favoritism, financial inequity, wrongful firings and unqualified hires, BOR president Greg Bigman confirmed Tuesday.
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