A jury in Los Angeles has awarded former Cal State San Bernardino administrator Anissa Rogers $6 million after she alleged severe gender discrimination and harassment within the California State University (CSU) system. The verdict, reached on October 20, 2023, marks a significant moment in addressing claims of systemic gender bias in one of the largest public university systems in the United States.
Rogers, who served as the associate dean at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert campus, claimed that her experiences were reflective of broader issues affecting female employees within the CSU framework. Her attorney, Courtney Abrams, noted that the jury’s decision represents a clear repudiation of what she described as CSU’s persistent denial of gender bias. “Dr. Rogers stood up not only for herself but also for other women subjected to gender-based double standards,” Abrams declared after the three-week trial presided over by Judge Maurice Leiter.
Allegations of Systemic Discrimination
The lawsuit, initiated in March 2023, was not solely against the university but also included Tomas Morales, the president of Cal State San Bernardino, and Jake Zhu, the former dean of the Palm Desert campus. Rogers and her co-plaintiff, Clare Weber, the former vice provost, alleged a pattern of discrimination and sexual harassment that violated California’s Equal Pay Act. They contended that they faced retaliation for voicing concerns about unequal treatment and pay discrepancies.
“This case exposed what women inside Cal State have been saying for years: the mistreatment of women within the system is not just a series of one-off incidents; the problem is systemic and structural,” said Andrew Friedman, another attorney representing Rogers.
Rogers alleged that on October 15, 2021, she received multiple complaints from female employees who attended a meeting hosted by Zhu, during which two male department heads reportedly berated a female administrator for an extended period. Zhu was accused of witnessing the incident without intervening. Following her confrontation with him about the event, Rogers claimed she became a target for termination.
On January 1, 2022, Rogers stated she was “constructively terminated,” meaning she felt compelled to resign due to a hostile work environment. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that several current and former employees echoed Rogers’s claims, alleging that Zhu exhibited preferential treatment towards male staff.
Retaliation and Mixed Outcomes
Weber’s allegations further highlighted the systemic issues at play; she claimed she was one of the lowest-paid vice provosts in the CSU system despite her responsibilities. After raising concerns directly with Morales about the pay disparities among vice provosts, she was dismissed the following day.
In a statement following the jury’s decision, Alan Llavore, a spokesperson for CSUSB, expressed disappointment in the verdict and indicated that the university would explore its options for appeal. Officials at the California State University Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach declined to provide further comments.
Two months after the lawsuit was filed, CSUSB announced Zhu’s retirement, praising his contributions to the Palm Desert campus. Zhu testified that his retirement was unrelated to the lawsuit and was motivated by personal family considerations. However, evidence presented at trial suggested that concerns regarding Zhu’s leadership had already led to discussions about his replacement prior to his departure.
The trial illuminated a broader climate of fear and intimidation within the university. Rogers’s attorney argued that the administration ignored recommendations from a climate survey conducted in the previous years, which indicated significant issues related to gender-based mistreatment. This survey had suggested implementing an anti-bullying policy and auditing human resources practices, recommendations that Morales acknowledged were never acted upon.
In 2017, faculty at Cal State San Bernardino had expressed no confidence in Morales, highlighting ongoing dissatisfaction with his leadership and inability to address critical issues within the university environment.
Weber’s case, which was separated from Rogers’s, is set to proceed to trial next year, continuing to shine a light on the challenges faced by women in academic leadership roles within the CSU system.
