Scholar Claims Wichita State University Retracted a Job Offer After She Revealed She Was Pregnant

Evangeline Heiliger, a visiting assistant professor of gender, sexuality, and feminist studies at Oberlin College in Ohio, has filed a lawsuit against Wichita State University in Kansas. She claims that officials at Wichita State retracted an employment offer after she told them she was pregnant.

Dr. Heiliger says in her suit that she applied for a tenure-track assistant professor of women’s studies position at Wichita State University in late 2017 and was interviewed in person on February 23, 2018. She says she was offered the job by the director of the Center for Women’s Studies via telephone on March 15. During that phone call, she mentioned for the first time that she was pregnant and inquired about childcare options on campus.

Dr. Heiliger then emailed the dean on March 16 “expressing her excitement about starting the new position.” The dean emailed her back later that day “indicating that he had become aware she was no longer available for the position and that they were removing her from consideration.” Dr. Heiliger responded and told the dean she was available and eager to start the position, but never received a response.

Dr. Heiliger is seeking more than $75,000 in damages from Wichita State University, plus any fees she incurs during the case. She is a graduate of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.