MSU review yields no violations from former employee

COLLUM.jpg [1]

By NATHAN GREGORY
citybeat@starkvilledailynews.com [2]

A former Mississippi State University business manager is no longer with the university after being charged with embezzlement of a separate entity last month.

Beth Sykes Collum, 49, of 336 Sibley Road in Eupora, was arrested in November and accused of embezzling from the Mississippi Horse Show Association, an organization she served as state treasurer since 2008. She was released on a $10,000 bond and subsequently placed on administrative leave at MSU pending an internal investigation.

Director of University Relations Sid Salter said an internal fund review at MSU yielded no evidence she embezzled from the university.

“The university’s internal audit division completed their investigation of funds by that individual and found no irregularities,” Salter said.

Collum was the business manager for MSU’s Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. She had held that post since 2010 and had been an MSU employee since 2006.

It is unknown how much Collum is accused of embezzling.