Jennifer Brown alleges age, race discrimination
By Ava Uhlack, January 27, 2026
Former Provost Jennifer Brown is suing members of Cal Poly Pomona’s administration, including former President Soraya Coley, for wrongful termination, alleging age and race discrimination and a denial of due process, according to the Daily Bulletin.
The lawsuit filed by Brown’s legal counsel, labor and employment law attorney David Wolf, with the Pomona Superior Court Jan. 2 cites fraud in contract, race and age discrimination, whistleblower retaliation and defamation. Other defendants include Vice President and Chief of Staff Nicole Hawkes and current Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Terri Gomez in addition to California State University and Cal Poly Pomona, according to UniCourt.
Brown alleges being “iced out” from communications, meetings and decisions concerning her area of responsibility within the lawsuit and contends that Coley instructed colleagues to “spy on or engage in surveillance” of her, the Daily Bulletin reported.
Brown stated in an email response to The Poly Post: “I’m currently working with my lawyer/counsel on an amended complaint, and on advice of counsel I’m not able to comment further at this time. If you want to reach out to him directly, I have copied him in this email.”
Wolf did not respond to a request for comment or an interview.
The university’s reply for comment sent via email stated: “The university cannot comment on any individual personnel matters. Broadly, every personnel decision at the executive level is taken seriously, deliberately, and in consideration of the impact to the institution. The university takes allegations of discrimination seriously and is committed to maintaining a workplace that is fair, inclusive, and respectful. Because this matter is in litigation, the university will not comment on specific allegations.”
Brown received communication about her removal as provost from Coley in an eight-page performance evaluation handed to her in person Sept. 17, 2023, before she was fired the following day, according to previous coverage by The Poly Post. Brown then filed a Management Personnel Plan Reconsideration for the administration to review her removal.
In response to the eight-page letter, Brown told The Poly Post at the time: “I feel that the series of expectations of me are changing and that I am being treated differently.”
Additionally, according to coverage from Inside Higher Ed after Brown’s initial removal, Brown stated communication with Coley decreased the semester before being fired in spring 2023, but they maintained a schedule of meetings approximately two hours every other week. While Brown noted there was no clear indication of an impending removal, calls and texts to the president started to render a pattern of no response.
As provost, Brown served as a coordinator of academic programs, an administrator of academic resources and a planner and implementer of key initiatives, according to the Cal Poly Pomona website. After being removed from the position, Brown returned to the classroom as a professor and is currently still serving as such, according to Brown’s LinkedIn profile.
A hearing is set for May 20 for a case management conference as well as the order to show cause concerning a failure to file proof of service, according to UniCourt.
Feature image courtesy of Jennifer Brown
