Legal Advocacy Fund Cases
Wilson v. University of California, Davis
Case History
Sharon Wilson, an African-American assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, Davis, sued the university for sex and race discrimination.
Wilson, who joined the university in 1992, repeatedly received excellent performance evaluations, promotional advancement, and merit salary increases. In 1995 two faculty positions opened. Despite the committee chair’s knowledge of Wilson’s interest in such positions, Wilson alleges that he concealed the existence of the positions from her and that she was passed over for promotion in favor of two less qualified white men.
Although Wilson formally complained to the vice provost of academic planning and personnel, the university failed to investigate the matter. Consequently, Wilson alleged that she suffered retaliation for her complaints. After her meeting with the vice provost, Wilson’s supervisors began creating a record to justify either Wilson’s exclusion from the recruitment process or denial of her candidacy on the merits.
Wilson filed suit in federal court in October 1996. She settled her suit against the university in April 2001 and was awarded her research position at the university.
Key Case Issues
Race and sex discrimination, retaliation