St. John’s Administrator Charged with Embezzlement

According to a story in the New York Times, Cecilia Chang, formerly the dean of the Institute of Asian Studies at St. John’s University, was arrested Wednesday on charges of embezzling about $1 million from the school.  A routine audit of expenses that she had submitted for reimbursement eventually led to her suspension in January and her termination in June, says the story.  She reportedly entered a plea of not guilty at her arraignment in State Supreme Court in Queens on Wednesday, where she was ordered to be held on $1 million bail.  The Times reports that if she is convicted, Ms. Chang could be sentenced to as many as 25 years in prison.

JRB