She was later fired from North Carolina State University after it was revealed that she had obtained her job, with an annual salary of $175,000, with the help of her husband's influence as governor.

[3] Easley attended Wake Forest University to study political science, graduating magna cum laude in 1972.

[2][6] She also supervised law students representing criminal defendants through the university's clinic and was a faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy's southeast region.

[2][7][8] She was hired at North Carolina State University as an executive-in-residence and a senior lecturer, running a program for emergency rescue workers and coordinating law education initiatives.

[6][9][10] She built the Millenium Seminar series at North Carolina State, bringing in guest speakers including David Gergen, Robert Reich, Charlie Rose, Senator Lindsey Graham, Myles Brand, Bill Bradley, and Donna Shalala.

[4][6] She established initiatives in teacher recruitment and infant immunization, focusing on North Carolinians who speak English as a second language.

[16] She volunteered at the North Carolina Museum of Art, recruiting international exhibits, organizing events, and assisting in fundraising efforts.

[6] Through her cultural exchanges, she obtained a $35 million collection of Auguste Rodin's work and assisted in raising funds to construct a new Greek Art wing for the museum.

[6] Her expenses, which paid for an interrogee of nine people, included hotels, meals, transportation, and tickets to the Mariinsky Ballet.

[21][22][23] She was criticized by the North Carolina State Employees Association members, who claimed she was given preferential treatment as the governor's wife.

[6] In June 2009, the university's board of trustees voted to terminate Easley's contract after newly released documents indicating that her husband was involved in her hiring.