Former VP Chris Sharp responds after Amarillo College audit

Four months after a sudden suspension sparked questions about Amarillo College’s finances, former Vice President of Business Affairs Chris Sharp is publicly responding following a forensic audit that found no funds were missing. Sharp, who was placed on administrative leave in October and resigned a month later, emphasized that the audit vindicates him while criticizing the college’s leadership for how the situation was handled.

The audit, conducted by Weaver Accounting Firm, reviewed financial activity from 2019 to 2025, including bond-funded construction projects, bank accounts, investment activity, and internal communications. Its findings confirm that all funds are accounted for, but also highlight shortcomings in how cost overruns and contract changes were communicated internally.

Sharp noted in a statement to High Plains Pundit:

1. This audit is vindication that I did nothing wrong and I’m happy that the truth has come out. I was placed on administrative leave (I still haven’t been told why) and forced to resign my position unnecessarily.

2. I have been made the scapegoat for decisions that the Regents made. I was simply trying to do my job and navigate the College through a financial crisis of their own making.

Sharp disputes some of the audit’s conclusions about communication. The report noted that cost overruns were “not adequately communicated to the Board of Regents.” Sharp maintains that his office held monthly meetings and submitted detailed financial reports, which the board approved.

Records show Sharp listed several major expenditures to college president Dr. Jamelle Conner in an email, citing projects that he said cost the college millions of dollars, including Innovation Outpost and Sharpened Iron Studios. Sharp claims Dr. Conner did not respond, asserting that leadership was more focused on controlling the narrative than resolving financial issues. “She was more interested in controlling the narrative by restricting my ability to communicate and resolve the situation,” Sharp previously said about Conner.

Sharp is now demanding a public apology from the college, stating, “AC leadership should be ashamed at what they put me and my family through.”

The audit confirmed that while no money was missing, bond-funded construction projects did cost more than initially projected. It noted that project scopes expanded, certain contracts were renegotiated without formal board approval, and increased costs were partially covered with unrestricted funds.

College leadership emphasized that the spending corresponded to actual improvements to campus facilities. “While construction projects were more expensive than originally projected, the work was performed and tied directly to the improvement of the College and community,” the college said.

President Conner defended the decision to launch the investigation, citing the need for transparency. “When procedural questions came to light, it was important not to assume, but to investigate,” she said. “We are committed to accountability to our taxpayers, employees, and our students—and want to give our community the full facts provided by this report.”

The audit, commissioned after administrative reviews raised concerns in October, examined whether funds from the 2019 bond package were being mismanaged. At the time, a $2.3 million shortfall tied to construction projects prompted scrutiny from the Board of Regents, which convened a special meeting in November to discuss the financial gap.

Sharp previously outlined several expenses he said contributed to institutional financial strain, including $2 million on Innovation Outpost and Sharpened Iron Studios, $1 million annually on athletics with no revenue, and $300,000–$500,000 yearly for two childcare centers. He also noted challenges related to the Health Science Simulation Center and changes to fundraising campaigns led by the Amarillo College Foundation.

“At the time, everyone knew that we didn't have enough money in the bond funds to complete this,” Sharp said in his correspondence with leadership. He also referenced a $5 million line of credit approved by the regents in October and concluded his email with, “I have done nothing wrong.”

The forensic audit largely supports that assertion by confirming no funds were missing, even as it underscores communication and oversight deficiencies. According to the report, the core issues were not financial misconduct but rather insufficient internal reporting and delays in updating leadership on evolving project costs.

The findings illustrate a broader governance challenge for publicly funded institutions: managing large capital projects requires both accurate financial tracking and timely communication with decision-makers. Cost increases and contract changes, even when legitimate, must be transparently reported to avoid misunderstandings or perceptions of mismanagement.

The Board of Regents is scheduled to hear a detailed presentation from Weaver Accounting Firm on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The discussion will likely address both the audit’s conclusions and recommended steps for strengthening financial reporting and oversight.

As Amarillo College moves forward, officials have emphasized that the audit provides not only answers to past concerns but also an opportunity to improve internal processes. For Sharp, the report represents a personal vindication, though he continues to press for recognition of what he considers the undue consequences of the college’s earlier actions.

In the end, the audit closes the chapter on missing funds but leaves ongoing questions about communication and governance. Sharp’s response highlights the tensions that can arise when administrative decisions intersect with public accountability and institutional financial management.

Below is the full statement from Sharp:

This audit is vindication that I did nothing wrong and I’m happy that the truth has come out. I was placed on administrative leave (I still haven’t been told why) and forced to resign my position unnecessarily.

I would like to address the statement that the Board of Regents was not adequately and timely reported to. This statement is incorrect. Staff in my office reported the financials monthly at the Regents meetings. These financials were discussed and approved by the Board. Many discussions were held with Dr. Conner and the Regents that the programs initiated by them (Athletics, Innovation Outpost Consultant, VFX program, to name a few) did not have a revenue source and until those programs started making money, the College would have to use reserve funds to pay for them.

A week before I was placed on administrative leave, I presented Dr. Conner with a plan to navigate through the cash flow problem. She replied in an email that it was a good plan, and thanked me for putting it together. About a month before being placed on leave, the Regents’ President told the College Finance Committee that I was the best VP of Business Affairs that Amarillo College has ever had.

I have been made the scapegoat for decisions that the Regents made. I was simply trying to do my job and navigate the College through a financial crisis of their own making. AC leadership should be ashamed at what they put me and my family through.

A public apology is the least that they could do. This audit, along with putting my faith in God, has helped me move forward.