Tufts University has fired its student activities director after accusing her of embezzling an estimated $300,000, stunning university and student leaders who knew the veteran administrator as a mentor on the Medford campus.
Confronted with the allegations last week, Jodie Nealley admitted to Tufts officials that she took at least a portion of the money, university officials said.
She was fired Friday, and university officials delivered the news to student leaders Wednesday evening.
The officials said they believe Nealley, an 11-year employee of Tufts, embezzled the bulk of the money starting in July.
They have forwarded the case as a criminal matter to the Middlesex district attorney's office, which said its investigation is ongoing and that no charges have been filed.
Tufts is scrutinizing several sources of money that Nealley had access to, including the student activity funds, supported by a $258 annual fee paid by undergraduates, and revenue from ticket sales.
The university began investigating Nealley after receiving a confidential tip on a hotline.
"We are shocked, disappointed, and angered by Ms. Nealley's actions," Bruce Reitman, dean of student affairs, said in a statement. "She breached the trust that all of us at Tufts had placed in her."
Nealley could not be reached for comment yesterday. Her lawyer, Howard M. Lewis, said he could not comment on the allegations or on the assertion by Tufts that Nealley had admitted to misappropriating some of the funds.
"Ms. Nealley will be cooperative with all authorities when the time comes," Lewis said. "Once the accusations come out, there's an interesting story behind all of this that will explain a lot of actions." He would not elaborate.
Student leaders, who often attended leadership exercises run by Nealley, described a caring administrator with an open-door policy.
"I was shocked and sad," said Neil DiBiase, 20, a junior and the Tufts student body president. "She was an unbelievable mentor. She was warm and welcoming and helpful and everything you wanted in an adviser."
Any missing money will not affect student activities this year, student leaders said. They and university officials confirmed that Tufts would make up the lost funds.
The activities fund is approximately $1.2 million a year, said Evan Dreifuss, 21, a Tufts senior and treasurer of the Tufts Community Union, which oversees student groups.
Dreifuss, like DiBiase, said he had come to know Nealley well and saw her as someone who could advise students on personal problems and leadership issues.
The news of Nealley's firing was first reported yesterday in the Tufts Daily, the student newspaper.
Paul Tringale, who directs conferences and summer programs and other university activities, will serve as the interim director of student activities until a replacement for Nealley is hired, said Kim Thurler, university spokeswoman.
Tufts will examine its existing procedures and money controls because of the case, but Thurler said she was unaware of similar incidents in the past.
According to an online version of her biography previously posted on the Tufts student activities site, Nealley came to the university in 1996 as the assistant director of student activities. She became director the following year.
Wertheimer can be reached at wertheimer@globe.com.
