An ethnic studies professor at the University of California, Riverside, will resign next year following more than a decade of outrage over accusations that she falsely claimed Indigenous American heritage.
Andrea Smith, once a heralded scholar of Native American studies, faced criticism since at least 2008 for claiming she was Cherokee but had remained employed at the southern California university. Last year, 13 of her colleagues at UC Riverside alleged that she made fraudulent claims to Indigenous American identity and violated academic integrity.
Months later, Smith reached a deal with the university and agreed to resign in August 2024. Under the terms of the agreement, Smith will not be subjected to investigation and will continue teaching classes until her retirement. She will keep her retirement benefits and her honorary emeritus title. UC Riverside will also cover up to $5,000 of her legal expenses related to the complaint. The agreement could help the university avoid more costly litigation.
The settlement agreement, made public earlier this month, will bring a “timely conclusion” to Smith’s employment, John D Warren, a university spokesperson, told the New York Times.
“Investigations of a tenured faculty member for alleged misconduct have potential for litigation and appeals, and can unfold over the course of years.”
The agreement seems to bring to a close a years-long controversy over Smith allegedly misrepresenting her identity. Prominent Indigenous American...
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