Fired Saint Augustine's president claims hostile workplace, gender bias
Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail, the former president of Saint Augustine's University, is claiming a hostile work environment, including race and gender bias from a male-dominated Board of Trustees.
Civil rights law firm Sanford Heisler Sharp on Tuesday filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of McPhail, who alleges that Saint Augustine’s University and its leaders subjected her and other Black women to discrimination.
McPhail was appointed as Saint Augustine's 13th president in 2021. McPhail told WRAL News that she learned she would be dismissed from the role she held for less than two years when separation papers were delivered to her on Nov. 4. Her firing was effective immediately.
McPhail claims she was fired days after she notified the university she would be taking legal action.
According to the EEOC Charge, men on Saint Augustine's Board of Trustees "berated Dr. McPhail and her Black female peers and devalued their opinions." It also claims the men "dismissed her concerns, claiming she needed to be "less sensitive."
According to the charge, in an Oct. 5 board meeting, one male member yelled at Dr. McPhail, “Woman, did you hear me speak?! I demand you answer my question!” The charge alleges the same trustee later shouted at McPhail, “Who do you think you are?! You’re just an employee. Get out of my face, employee!”
McPhail on Oct. 9 submitted an internal complaint, alleging “hostile environment.”
Weeks after McPhail's firing, Saint Augustine's University appointed Dr. Marcus H. Burgess to the role of interim president.
Burgess most recently served as vice president for institutional advancement at Claflin University in South Carolina.
The Saint Augustine's University Board of Trustees has released the following statement:
"The Board denies the unfounded allegations Dr. McPhail has made against the University, and the Board is prepared to defend itself and the institution," the statement reads in part. "The University will have no further comment on these issues given that this is a personnel matter.
