Three Former Deans Settle Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Against the Arizona Board of Regents

Three women scholars, who were former deans at the University of Arizona, recently settled a $2 million lawsuit against the Arizona Board of Regents. The women claimed that they were discriminated against because of their gender and were paid significantly less than some of their male colleagues.

The case began in January 2018 when Patricia MacCorquodale, former dean of the university’s Honors College, filed a federal lawsuit claiming pay inequality between men and women at the university. According to Dr. MacCorquodale, she was underpaid during her two decades as dean of the Honors College. Additionally, the university paid her male successor $70,000 more than her when he took over the deanship in 2016.

In March 2018, Janice Cervelli, former dean of the university’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture, joined the lawsuit under claims that she and other women deans at the university were underpaid compared to their male peers. In August 2018, Joan Shaver, former dean of the College of Nursing, joined the case under similar claims as her co-plaintiffs.

“Plaintiffs brought this action to highlight the importance of gender equity and diverse leadership in higher education, and both parties agree and reaffirm the continuing importance of these issues,” said both parties in a recently released statement. The joint statement also stated that both parties, “are pleased that this matter has been mutually resolved.”

Dr. MacCorquodale remains at the University of Arizona as a women’s studies professor, alongside Dr. Shaver, who serves as a nursing professor. Cervelli left the university and recently served as president of Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana.