SBCC Official Pleads to Conflict of Interest Charge
Director of Financial Aid negotiated with own husband for contract work.
Pleading no contest to one misdemeanor conflict of interest charge, Santa Barbara City College’s longtime Director of Financial Aid, Bradley Hardison, received a year of probation and was required to restitute thousands of dollars earned by his spouse through a contract Hardison had arranged.
Between 2013 and 2015, SBCC paid $51,975 to the nonprofit Independent Living Resource Center [ILRC] for the creation of online financial aid forms for students with disabilities. As an independent contractor with ILRC, Nicolas Crisosto earned roughly $37,000 for the work. Crisosto is married to Hardison.
“The investigation revealed that Hardison personally negotiated the contracts with [Crisosto],” according to a press release from the Office of Santa Barbara County District Attorney. “[Hardison] was untruthful about this fact when questioned by SBCC officials.”
Hardison was fired on July 15, 2015, after 14 years at the helm of the college’s financial aid department. At the same time, ILRC severed all ties with Crisosto, who was not charged with a crime.
On April 1, Hardison completed his repayment of the $37,000 to SBCC.
