POMONA – A Black former high-ranking Cal Poly Pomona executive is suing the university over her 2023 termination. She alleges she was a victim of age and race discrimination and denied due process.
Jennifer Brown’s Pomona Superior Court lawsuit allegations include fraud in contract, race and age discrimination, whistleblower retaliation and defamation. She also is suing three individual CPP administrators, including then-President Soraya Coley, who retired in February 2025. The suit states that Brown is over 40 years old, but does not give her precise age.
Brown alleges that Coley, who also is Black, did not openly accept viewpoints different from her own, the suit states. Brown also contends that Coley authorized the plaintiff bring “iced out” from communications. Brown’s regular exclusion from important meetings and decisions related to her areas of responsibilities is also noted. Brown alleges that Coley told the plaintiff’s colleagues to “spy on or engage in surveillance” of her.
A CPP representative issued a statement regarding the suit filed Friday.
“The university cannot comment on any individual personnel matters nor on any lawsuits,” the statement read. “However, every personnel decision at the executive level is taken seriously, deliberately and in consideration of the impact to the institution.”
Brown was hired in April 2022 as provost and vice president of academic affairs. This is the second highest position in the CPP leadership chain. The person in the position reports directly to the CPP president.
Brown was previously vice provost and dean of undergraduate education as well as a professor in the school of public policy at UC Riverside. The single-mother moved from Corona to Ontario with her daughter, then 11, to take the CPP job, the suit states.
However, Brown was terminated in September 2023 without due process or adherence to university policies, the suit alleges.
“Plaintiff was not notified by defendant former President Coley that Plaintiff needed to correct any behavior of performance that was necessary as a condition of continued employment in the role of provost …,” the suit states. “Plaintiff believes and therefore alleges that plaintiff was being treated differently than plaintiff’s peers in similar situations.”
The administration provided no opportunity for Brown to explain her rationale for work that she later learned was reported to be disturbing to Coley. Furthermore, Brown did not have any information that Coley questioned the plaintiff’s abilities and leadership, according to the suit.
CPPs termination of Plaintiff was communicated to her while she was on a partial remote work for long-COVID accommodation. This was previously approved by the university, the suit states.
“Plaintiff was appalled that a single-mother with a medical accommodation would be non-retained during her accommodation leave time. She was not given a chance to provide a timely explanation or rebuttal on her evaluation other than a request for reconsideration of non-retention without due process,” the suit states.
