West Virginia University will not fire a former Ohio State official, despite involvement in the JobsOhio scandal
Chris Kabourek, the incoming WVU vice president and chief financial officer, most recently served as senior vice president for administration and planning at The Ohio State University where he led one of the university’s largest administrative portfolios, spanning public safety, information technology, campus planning, facilities, real estate and major capital projects. (Submitted Photo)
West Virginia University, which recently hired a former Ohio State University official connected to the JobsOhio scandal, will keep him employed.
On April 23, Chris Kabourek resigned as Ohio State’s senior vice president for administration and planning after university investigators revealed that he was closely connected to the scandal, in which the two main figures were former Ohio State president Ted Carter and his girlfriend, podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos.
NBC 4 reported that the university hired Kabourek just two days after he resigned.
Carter ensured that JobsOhio would pay for four episodes of Vlachos’s podcast, with only the first released, and that she would have access to Ohio State resources that a non-university-affiliated person would not have.
Despite Kabourek’s heavy involvement in the scandal, WVU said that he will begin working as the university’s new vice president and chief financial officer on the first day of June, according to NBC 4.
“West Virginia University has done its due diligence in vetting Mr. Kabourek for this important role as a strategic partner in helping to build a stronger University,” a WVU spokesperson told the news source.
Despite allegations that they “vetted” Kabourek, it appears they failed to read the Ohio State investigators’ report, which stated that the official was very supportive of Vlachos’s access to university and state resources.
“At Carter’s direction and encouragement, and unlike all other employees, Kabourek made substantive efforts to support Carter’s efforts on behalf of Vlachos both inside the university and with key university partners, and he admitted when interviewed that Carter frequently checked in with him on progress,” the investigators wrote.
The investigators added that, aside from Carter, Kabourek was Vlachos’ primary point of contact for the university.
“Mr. Kabourek fully disclosed to the university in the interview process that there would be a report from his previous employer, his perspective on the investigation, which differs from what has been published, and the circumstances leading to it,” a WVU spokesperson told the news source.
NBC 4 reported that, when signing his contract, which will last until June 30, 2031, Kabourek said he was unaware of any affairs that could be subject to state or federal investigation, aside from those he had previously discussed.
West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson previously announced the hiring of Kabourek, writing in the press release that in him, they found “a creative, dynamic, forward-looking, and solutions-focused CFO who is steeped in the workings of large, public, flagship research institutions, like West Virginia University.”
“To advance the University’s mission, Chris will provide critical strategic vision, financial stewardship, and operational oversight in the management of our financial health, facilities, technology, and operational infrastructure,” Benson said in a release.
