Debra Mitchell-Braxton, whose race-discrimination lawsuit against Southeast Missouri State University was settled out of court, has been hired as director of a federally funded program at the school.

University officials announced the hiring Monday afternoon. Mitchell-Braxton currently is assistant director of the Campus Assistance Center at Southeast.

She will begin her new job as director of Project Upward Bound on Sept. 1. She will be a part of the university's enrollment management team.

Mitchell-Braxton's salary in the new position hasn't been finalized, said Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president at Southeast.

Project Upward Bound is part of the federal Trio programs designed to help low-income and first-generation college students and perspective students. Project Upward Bound encourages at-risk students to complete high school and go on to college or a technical school.

An internal audit last year uncovered mismanagement of the Trio programs that resulted in net budget overruns of more than $36,000. Money was spent on items in violation of federal grant regulations and the programs failed to comply with university policies and procedures.

The violations included everything from employees making long-distance telephone calls for personal use to the improper use of travel funds and the school's American Express cards.

The audit was ordered in fall 1995 by then-president Dr. Bill Atchley.

Southeast's president, Dr. Dale Nitzschke, said the university has corrected the management problems.

"My sense is that the programs are on a very sound financial basis now," he said. "I expect the stability of the financial situation will continue clearly under her leadership," he said.

Mitchell-Braxton will report to Gerald Hayes, who oversees six programs that focus on precollege students. Those include the Trio programs.

Nitzschke said the various programs serve as "fertile ground" for recruiting students.

Mitchell-Braxton, who is black, filed a federal lawsuit in June 1994, contending she was denied a promotion as director of the Campus Assistance Center because of her race.

She filed a second lawsuit after she was suspended for five days without pay in spring 1995 after a confrontation at the Campus Assistance Center with the spouse of another university employee.

She claimed the university disciplined her because of the first lawsuit.

The lawsuits were settled out of court in April 1996. Terms weren't disclosed; but Mitchell-Braxton said as recently as June that she was pleased with the outcome.

Nitzschke said he wasn't aware of the terms of the settlement, which occurred before he became president.

Mitchell-Braxton said in a prepared statement that her new job fits in with the duties she has performed at the Campus Assistance Center.

"The only difference is that I will be working with students prior to them entering college, helping them to be successful and to choose to go to college.

"I see this as an opportunity to reach out and to help students meet their goals," she said.

Mitchell-Braxton has been employed at the university for 19 years.