Former FAMU VP Finance and Administration, Gloria Walker, may have “deliberately circumvented school policy and illegally issued contracts to vendors in her previous job at the University of New Orleans,” according to a Louisiana state audit released last week covering the university’s 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office found UNO management “deliberately circumvented university policies and procedures” to purchase and install a $250,000 boiler by failing to provide a required list of three contractors to the Purchasing Department to obtain quotes. The act increased the risk of fraud and overpayment for services, the audit stated.
In his response to the auditor’s office, UNO President John Nicklow blamed the contract violation on the university’s former vice president of business affairs/chief financial officer (Walker), whom he did not directly identify.
The audit report, which covered UNO’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, stated university management allowed the existing maintenance contractor to obtain unsealed quotes and make their own recommendation for a winning bidder.
Nicklow’s written response to the audit agreed with the findings and pointed out that he fired the vice president of business affairs “who consciously and deliberately circumvented our agency policies and procedures.” The vice president of business affairs is also the university’s chief financial officer and comptroller.
Nicklow wrote the university has also updated its internal controls to prevent future thefts of cash and to allow the payroll department to more easily verify employee time certifications.
Walker's name also surfaced as a part of an FBI corruption investigation during her time at Houston Community College.
On Monday, less than a week after the news article surfaced, FAMU abruptly dismissed Walker who had began working at the University last June.