Ousted last fall as CEO of Manchester Community College, Nicole Esposito subsequently sued the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, alleging gender discrimination and a number of other issues, including violations of her First Amendment and equal protection rights.
Today she’s returning to her role—with a payout and other concessions from the CSCU system.
“I am eager to get back and continue providing the best possible experience for the students of Manchester Community College, as well as everyone else who is a part of the MCC community,” Esposito said in a statement provided through her legal counsel.
Esposito filed suit in August 2021 after facing alleged gender discrimination. The lawsuit alleges that her supervisor, Rob Steinmetz, threatened her job when she complained about his behavior and that officials pressured her to resign when she asked them to intervene in the matter. The lawsuit charges that Esposito was removed without cause.
Now CSCU must pay Esposito $775,000—a mix of back pay, compensatory damages and attorney’s fees—and provide training for executives and managers on discrimination and retaliation, whistle-blower protections, and employee free speech rights. The settlement also bars Esposito’s former supervisor—the man accused of sexist behavior toward her and other women—from holding any managerial power over her.
The defendants in the case did not admit to any wrongdoing.
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