ASU professor files lawsuit against USU
Arizona State University professor Sandra Houston has filed a lawsuit in Salt Lake City’s U.S. District Court alleging that Utah State University practiced sexual discrimination when hiring a dean for its College of Engineering in 2002.
In her complaint filed on Aug. 29, Houston claims she was not given the position in lieu of being more qualified than the male individual, H. Scott Hinton, who was selected as the new dean. Houston also claimed that USU Provost Stan Albrecht called her in May of 2002 to inform her that “it was not at all ‘helpful’ to her that the College of Agriculture and the College of Business had just announced their hiring of two new female deans.”
Houston’s complaint states that the written job description for the dean of engineering position listed a doctorate degree as a requirement, something she had obtained and Hinton had not. Houston alleged that in Albrecht’s phone call to her, Albrecht said the hiring committee had recommended a male candidate for the dean’s position, and that the job offer was being extended to Hinton.
Allan Steed, chairman of the search committee to fill the dean’s position, said the claim that gender played a role in the committee’s decision played no role in their recommendation.
“Our recommendation of Hinton had absolutely, positively, unequivocally nothing to do with the fact that two women deans had been selected here,” Steed said. “We thought all of the candidates that came in were well-qualified, otherwise we wouldn’t have had them come in.”
Steed said that while Hinton did not possess a doctorate, he had experience and credentials that were “the certain equivalent to several Ph.D.s.”
“The things that impressed us about [Hinton] was he had good academic and industrial experience,” Steed said.
Hinton had served as a full professor at the University of Kansas, the University of Colorado at Boulder and McGill University in Canada prior to coming to USU. He also spent time at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Illinois where he “supervised 35 Ph.D.s,” Steed said.
Steed also cited Hinton’s nomination to the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and the Optical Society of America, where he elevated to the rank of fellow in both, as important credentials in Hinton’s selection.
“It’s pretty incredible to get on one, but to be a fellow on two of those before the age of 50 is pretty incredible,” Steed said.
USU spokesman John DeVilbiss said Hinton rose to the top for a good reason and has outstanding achievements.
“Utah State University takes great care in creating an environment where everybody is treated equally regardless of gender or race. That has always been the case,” DeVilbiss said.
Caryn Beck-Dudley, dean of the College of Business at USU, said the current administration at the university is very open to female employees, and said Albrecht in particular is very helpful to the advancement of women at USU.
“This is the best administration for women that I’ve ever experienced,” Beck-Dudley said. “Stan’s excellent. He’s been very supportive of female faculty members, very supportive of female administrators, and has done a lot of work.
“It’s one thing to be orally supportive, it’s another to help mentor people along,” she said. “He’s done both.”
Where Houston alleges that Albrecht told her it was “not really fair” to her that two female deans had just been named for the College of Agriculture and College of Business at the same time she was being considered, DeVilbiss said it is just allegations that sum up the lawsuit.
“This lawsuit is about allegations,” DeVilbiss said. “I really want to emphasize that word, allegations.
“We do not believe that there is any merit to her case and that her allegations are unfounded,” he said. “We are surprised that she has chosen this course.”
Houston said she did not want to comment on the case, as it is in court, but said she looks forward to litigating her claims.
“I’m confident that the jury will find that USU’s hiring practices violated federal law,” Houston said.
Albrecht said the university is “more than comfortable” standing on its record on gender issues.
“We did, as noted in the filing, hire two very strong female deans,” Albrecht said. “Other significant gender and minority hires have been made in the Provost’s Office and in other key administrative positions throughout the
university.”
Albrecht, who was awarded the 2003 Diversity Award for an administrator at USU, said USU hopes to continue to build on it’s important successes in diversity.
“Ironic is a good word,” DeVilbiss said regarding the accusations being made and Albrecht’s reputation for embracing diversity. “I think Stan’s record certainly justifies that kind of award. He’s incredible that way. There’s no question about it.”
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