Woman sues after university allegedly retracted job offer once it learned she was pregnant

An Ohio professor alleges that Wichita State University retracted a job offer after it learned that the gender, sexuality and feminist studies teacher was pregnant.

According to the Wichita Eagle, Evangeline Heiliger applied for a tenure-track job as an assistant professor of women’s studies in late 2017. She was then interviewed for the job in February 2018. In March, Heiliger was offered the position during a phone call with Chinyere Okafor, the university’s director of the Center for Women’s Studies.

It was during the phone call that the 41-year-old professor asked about childcare.

The following day, according to the lawsuit, Heiliger received an email from Ron Matson, the then-dean of the university. It said that he “had become aware that she was no longer available for the position” and she was removed from consideration. Matson retired in June.

“At no point during Dr. Heiliger’s conversation with Dr. Okafor did she ever indicate she was not available to accept the position,” the suit says. “In fact, after she [Heiliger] received Dean Matson’s email, she responded to him indicating she was available and eager to begin the position, to which she never received a response.”

In a statement to the Witchita Eagle, the university’s general counsel, David Moses, said, “The university remains committed to creating a fair and equitable workplace and does not discriminate in its employment practices. An administrative agency investigated [Heiliger’s] claim prior to this lawsuit being filed and didn’t conclude that the university violated the law.” The university did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for comment.

Heiliger is seeking payment for her court costs and attorney fees, as well as more than $75,000 in damages from the university. She is asking for a jury to hear the case.

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