Dawna Nelson will have her continued preliminary hearing next week against charges that she embezzled $4,775 from an organization's funds between July 2005 and March 2006.

Nelson, 55, is a former faculty adviser for the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students.

She pleaded not guilty to one charge of embezzlement stemming from her involvement with MAPS, according to court records.

Nelson, who was fired from OU on March 23, served as an academic adviser in the zoology department for 29 years.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Nelson was released on a personal recognizance bond March 14.

In an oral interview and a written statement from March 8, Nelson said she had embezzled the funds from the MAPS bank account, an affidavit states.

Nelson was solely responsible for the funds, accountability of funds, bank statements and checkbook for MAPS, according to an affidavit.

Shawn Chambers, president of MAPS, said the missing funds were noticed when the organization began to make payments for a trip to this month's Student National Medical Association Education Conference.

Chambers, a zoology and psychology senior, said the organization received a notice from Republic Bank in March that its account was overdrawn.

Embezzled Funds

o Ex-faculty adviser for Minority Association of Pre-Health Students Dawna Nelson is accused of embezzling $4,775 from MAPS's funds between July 2005 and March 2006.

o The charge's maximum penalty is five years in prison.

o Nelson was fired from OU on March 23.

Chambers said Nelson wrote 12 checks from the organization's account between March and July, completely draining the bank account of funds.

"It was a surprise to us," Chambers said. "She's supposed to be there to offer advice. Quite honestly, I liked her, which makes the situation more difficult for me."

MAPS has approximately 60 members. The organization brings speakers to OU and helps minority students transition into medical professions.

Chambers said MAPS students will still make the trip to the education conference in April. The conference is in Atlanta.

"The zoology department was nice enough to step in and help us out," Chambers said. "They have paid for our flights."

Douglas Mock, zoology professor, said he and other faculty members in the zoology department established a fund for Nelson's defense legal fees.

"When she got in trouble and the university was apparently coming down pretty hard on her, we passed the hat around," Mock said.

Mock said Nelson had planned to move forward in the legal process without an attorney. Nelson is now represented by Tracy Schumacher.

"She knew it was wrong, she's not denying it," Mock said. "We just think people screw up, and we think that 29 years of very faithful services to the university ought to be taken into account."

Chambers said it would be difficult for his organization to trust Nelson in the future.

"I certainly feel it's fair that she (was) removed from her position," Chambers said.

Mock said Nelson did not have the money for legal representation.

As a zoology department adviser, Nelson received $35,226 a year, according to OU's budget for the fiscal year 2005 to 2006.

According to court documents submitted on Nelson's behalf, she has repaid some of the money and attempted to provide the OU Police Department with a cashier's check for the remainder, which police could not accept.

According to the same records, Nelson lives in Norman with her daughter and mother.

Three credit companies have brought charges against Nelson since 2002 for indebtedness, according to Cleveland County court records. All charges were disposed.

Mock is among a list of professors with the zoology department who are willing to speak on Nelson's behalf, records state.

-- Managing editor William W. Savage III contributed to this story.
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