Former UM DEI Officer’s Discrimination Case Dismissed

A former University of Michigan diversity, equity and inclusion officer who accused the university of discrimination failed to prove that UM fired her based on race rather than her alleged antisemitic remarks, a federal court ruled.

However, the ruling leaves the door open for Rachel Dawson to seek other claims, including free-speech violations, in state court.

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Dawson, who is Black, filed suit against the UM Board of Regents in July 2025, alleging that her employment was terminated after two women exaggerated and fabricated comments she had made, painting her as an antisemite. She alleged that other, non-Black employees had made more egregious comments in the past and kept their jobs.

Specifically, she alleged the university had received complaints about several non-Black employees who went unpunished after making disparaging comments about Arab and Muslim students and insensitive remarks following the death of Charlie Kirk.

The university has maintained that Dawson’s termination had nothing to do with her race and came only after an investigation determined that she made antisemitic comments during a conversation with two other women at March 2024 conference.

Kumar wrote that Dawson’s allegations did not illustrate that race was a motivating factor in the regents’ decision to fire her. In fact, they reinforced UM’s assertions.

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Dawson had also alleged that “discrimination and bias” may have influenced the university’s decision to discipline and later fire her.

The court rejected that claim as well, finding she did not show a link between her discrimination complaints and her termination. The judge said the university’s move toward termination was already underway before Dawson raised allegations of racial and gender bias, meaning her complaint could not have caused the disciplinary action.

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UM officials have said Dawson was fired amid concerns about rising antisemitism on campus and throughout the UM community.

In recent years, UM has faced controversies involving allegations of antisemitism, including complaints about campus demonstrations following the Israel-Hamas war, criticism over university responses to antisemitic incidents, and disputes over pro-Palestinian protests and campus speech.

Dawson, the former director of UM’s Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, also filed suit against the regents in the Michigan Court of Claims, alleging her constitutional right to free speech was violated.

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