Outgoing USF employee alleges serious problems

By SHANNONCOLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER, Times Staff Writer
Published October 4, 2007

TAMPA - Human resources officials at the University of South Florida are looking into allegations of misspending, employee mistreatment and discrimination, after an outgoing student affairs administrator Wednesday sent a lengthy e-mail outlining his claims to dozens of USF colleagues.

James Dragna's e-mail, which he encourages recipients to pass along, comes as he prepares to leave his post as senior associate vice president of student affairs later this month,

His supervisor, student affairs vice president Jennifer Meningall, decided earlier this year not to renew Dragna's contract - in effect ousting him.

Asked in August about her decision, Meningall declined to elaborate. Dragna could not be reached Wednesday.

USF spokesman Ken Gullette said he could not comment in detail on Dragna's e-mail because it is a personnel matter, but he expressed "disappointment" that Dragna would allege such egregious things in such a public manner. "It went out this morning, HR has it, and they're dealing with it," Gullette said. "But we're very sorry he decided to go out this way."

Dragna alleges Meningall's office misspent tens of thousands of dollars, hired unnecessary costly consultants, did not conduct appropriate job searches, and was verbally abusive.

She is not commenting about the allegations.

Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler can be reached at svansickler@sptimes.com or 813 226-3403.

[Last modified October 3, 2007, 23:57:11]