A federal judge has denied a motion by Florida Atlantic University to dismiss a lawsuit alleging sexual discrimination and retaliation filed by the school’s former Dean of Students, Audrey L. Pusey.
Lawsuit Allegations
Pusey, who worked at FAU from 2017 until early 2025, alleges that the university violated the federal Civil Rights Act. Her complaint claims FAU subjected her to sexual discrimination, retaliated against her complaints, and permitted a hostile work environment.
According to court filings, Pusey alleges that her supervisor, Dr. Larry Faerman, excluded her from search committees, high-level meetings, and operational planning sessions. The filing also states that the Office of the Dean of Students was left out of marketing materials and social media channels, and that Faerman passed a termination letter back and forth in front of her during an unrelated meeting.
Retaliation Claims
Pusey submitted more than 19 informal complaints to university administrators during 2023 and 2024, along with written complaints to Deputy General Counsel Daniel Jones. She also initiated an inquiry with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on June 24, 2024. Following these reports, Pusey alleges the university retaliated through lower performance evaluations, further exclusion from operational tasks, and physical intimidation, including door-slamming.
Pusey states that the environment led to severe health issues, including anxiety, elevated blood pressure, and weight gain, which resulted in her resignation on Feb. 16, 2025. Her employment officially ended on Feb. 19, 2025.
Judge’s Ruling
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon M. McCabe for the Southern District of Florida issued the 12-page order following a referral from U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. The ruling clears the lawsuit filed by Pusey against FAU’s Board of Trustees to move forward.
Judge McCabe rejected FAU’s request to restrict the factual scope of the discrimination claims. The judge also allowed the hostile work environment claim to proceed, though he noted the legal hurdle Pusey faces as the case progresses.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
