"Shepard resigned late last year after facing withering scrutiny from the public and state politicians following a report from Searchlight New Mexico that found he spent lavishly on international travel and furniture for his on-campus home. The Office of the State Auditor subsequently found he "engaged in the waste of public funds" and his travel appeared, at times, to be "unrelated to official university business.""
"Fury over Shepard's golden parachute prompted WNMU regents to resign en masse and an effort from the state to claw back his exit package. While that effort was unsuccessful, newly appointed regents voted to void his separation agreement and terminate his teaching contract, which would have had Shepard teaching two classes a year with a $200,000 annual salary. Regents argued the prior board violated open meetings laws in approving his exit package."
"His lawsuit, filed last week, alleges "conspiracy, collusion, and collaboration among the highest members of the New Mexico State government to cover up criminal wrongdoing by former and current State Senators." He specifically names former state senator Siah Correa Hemphill, current lawmakers George Muñoz and Mimi Stewart, and State Auditor Joseph Maestas."
Joseph Shepard resigned as president of Western New Mexico University amid scrutiny over lavish spending and a $1.9 million severance package. The Office of the State Auditor found he "engaged in the waste of public funds" and that some travel appeared unrelated to official university business. Public outrage and the severance prompted mass resignations of WNMU regents and a state effort to claw back the exit package. Newly appointed regents voided his separation agreement and terminated his teaching contract. Shepard filed a lawsuit alleging conspiracy by state officials and lawmakers and claiming redirected funding involving a nearby charter school.
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