The University of Vermont has hired Lauren Griswold, Boise State University's chief communications and marketing officer, for a similar role. This move reunites her with former Boise State President Marlene Tromp and comes as Griswold faces sworn testimony alleging she attempted to conceal public records.
Griswold is the second high-ranking administrator from Boise State to follow Tromp to Vermont since Tromp became president there this spring. The appointment raises questions about the vetting process, given the public nature of the allegations against Griswold in Idaho.
Key Takeaways
- Lauren Griswold, a top Boise State communications official, has been hired for a similar position at the University of Vermont.
- She follows her former boss, Marlene Tromp, who recently became the president of the University of Vermont.
- A former Boise State vice president testified under oath that Griswold tried to hide public records by renaming files.
- Griswold is the second senior Boise State leader to join Tromp's team in Vermont, following former CFO Alicia Estey.
A New Role in Vermont
University of Vermont President Marlene Tromp announced the hiring of Lauren Griswold in a letter to the campus community. Griswold will serve in a senior communications and marketing capacity, a position she has held at Boise State since 2019.
In the announcement, Tromp praised her former colleague's track record.
"Lauren’s accomplishments as an integral member of my leadership team at two previous institutions give me great confidence that adding her experience to the strong existing team in Strategic Communications will position the division and the university for great success," Tromp stated in the letter.
This appointment marks a continued trend of leadership migration from Idaho to Vermont. In late July, Alicia Estey, who was Boise State’s chief financial and operating officer, also joined the University of Vermont as chief financial officer and vice president for finance.
Allegations of Concealing Public Records
Griswold's move is shadowed by serious allegations stemming from her time at Boise State. A controversy known as the "Big City Coffee case" led to sworn testimony from a former university vice president regarding Griswold's handling of documents.
According to the testimony, the former VP stated that Griswold took specific actions to prevent certain files from being discovered through public records requests.
Sworn Testimony Details
A former Boise State employee testified under oath that Griswold renamed documents related to the case to "B space C space C." When asked for the reason behind this unusual naming convention, the employee stated, "I believe it was for it not to be put forth in a public records request."
This practice, if true, would be a deliberate attempt to circumvent transparency laws that govern public institutions like Boise State. The alleged actions were designed to make the files difficult, if not impossible, to locate using standard search terms related to the case.
Public records laws are a cornerstone of institutional accountability, ensuring that the public can review the actions of government and university officials. Any attempt to deliberately hide or obscure such records is a significant breach of public trust.
An Exodus from Boise State
Griswold’s departure is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader pattern of high-level administrators leaving Boise State University following the departure of President Tromp earlier this year.
The transition in leadership has created a significant vacuum at the top of the Idaho-based university. The departure of key figures like the chief financial officer and the chief communications officer in quick succession points to a period of instability and change for the institution.
Leadership Changes at Boise State
Since Marlene Tromp's departure to become president of the University of Vermont, several senior officials have left Boise State. The university is currently in the process of searching for a new permanent president, with a panel recently requesting more time to find a suitable candidate. This ongoing leadership turnover affects strategic planning and daily operations.
The move by Tromp to hire two of her key former lieutenants from Boise State suggests an effort to rebuild a familiar leadership team at her new institution. However, bringing on an official facing public allegations of misconduct could create new challenges for the University of Vermont's administration.
For Boise State, the continued loss of experienced administrators complicates its efforts to stabilize and move forward under new leadership. The university must now fill multiple critical roles while navigating the public fallout from past controversies.