HowStuffWorks Founder Found Dead at University

Marshall Brian II, 63, founder of HowStuffWorks, was found dead in his office at North Carolina State University on November 20, shortly after sending an email accusing university officials of attempted sabotage. In the email sent around 4:30 AM, Brian claimed he was retaliated against by two department heads following his ethics complaints against Veena Misra, head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He asserted that he was not planning to retire, contrary to claims made by Stephen Markham, the university's executive director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Brian described his recent experiences at the university as demoralizing and unjust, stating he had been terminated on October 29. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of his death, which remains under investigation. His allegations suggest serious misconduct within the university, raising questions about the institutional response to ethics complaints.