A University of Wyoming dean who was demoted this spring after objecting to using state money marked for the engineering college to bolster a spinoff computing school sued the university Thursday, saying it illegally retaliated against him.
Cameron Wright, former dean of UW’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS), was demoted April 1 following a vote of the UW Board of Trustees. He remains a UW professor.
UW said it demoted Wright because he lacked a cogent plan to use state money to elevate the CEPS to nationally recognized levels of excellence.
Wright countered in his lawsuit complaint, saying the demotion was “solely in retaliation” for his refusal to use state funds earmarked for the engineering college to support a spinoff computing school that UW President Ed Seidel’s romantic partner Dr. Gabrielle Allen was running.
“On information and belief,” says Wright’s complaint, “(it was) at Dr. Seidel’s insistence, the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees removed Plaintiff as Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.”
Trustees, Too
Wright also accuses UW trustees who sought to explain his demotion of “publicly disseminat(ing) otherwise confidential information falsely denigrating his performance as Dean.”
The outcry was significant, and detractors said what Wright’s lawsuit now alleges: that Seidel pushed for Wright’s demotion because Wright refused to shift $500,000 marked annually for CEPS into the new computing school.
The lawsuit, however, doesn’t give the dollar amount.
Wright filed the complaint in Albany County District Court through his attorney, Mary Elizabeth Galvan. It accuses UW of breaking a state law that forbids state employers from penalizing employees who notify their employers "in good faith" of law or policy violations.
He is asking for the Albany County District Court to:
• Issue a judgment against UW, declaring it outside the anti-retaliation law.
• Order UW to reinstate him as dean and supply his back wages and benefits.
• Grant his reasonable attorneys’ fees.
• Offer “other and further relief as may be just and equitable.”
UW disagrees with the claims against it, wrote university spokesman Chad Baldwin in a Friday text to Cowboy State Daily.
“The university disagrees with allegations made in the complaint and will vigorously defend against it,” wrote Baldwin.
The Anti-Nepotism Move Disputed
On paper, Seidel had conflicted out of managing Allen’s negotiations on behalf of the School of Computing and had officially shifted that role to then-Provost Kevin Carman to satisfy the school’s policy addressing nepotism.
Yet, Wright alleges in an affidavit attached to his complaint that, “Seidel personally and through third parties improperly pressured Dr. Wright to sign a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ which would have diverted the disputed funds to the upstart school.”
Wright raised concerns in emails to Seidel and Carman on July 22, 2024, Aug. 2, 2024, and Aug. 19, 2024, the complaint says.
That money, Tier 1 Engineering Initiative funds, was appropriated by the Wyoming Legislature to elevate the engineering college to a nationally recognized level.
Wright objected that the transfer was not wise, would be seen as contrary to legislative intent, would set a “troublesome” precedent and could bring “negative political and financial ramifications” for UW, says the complaint.
And on Aug. 29, the lawsuit claims Wright flat refused “President Seidel’s demand that he sign the Memorandum” unless the supervisors could produce some legislative or other policy authority for such a funneling.
He did not receive a response, the complaint adds.
Warning The Governor
But on Sept. 18, Wright and his attorney met with Carman and UW legal counsel and Vice President Tara Evans, during which Wright was told no one was demanding he sign the MOU any longer.
Two legislators decided that month to warn the governor that Wright might suffer retaliation.
Sen. Chris Rothfuss and Rep. Karlee Provenza, both Democratic delegates from Laramie, wrote to Gov. Mark Gordon warning that Wright may face retaliation for “standing firm on these principles.”
Rothfuss and Provenza urged Gordon to protect Wright from retaliation and safeguard the money the Legislature intended for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, while scrutinizing “the appropriateness of any (computing school) expenditures while it remains within the College.”
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
