WILMINGTON, N.C. ― The University of North Carolina at Wilmington has reached a settlement in a seven-year battle with a criminology professor who sued the school after he was denied a promotion.
The StarNews of Wilmington reports Mike Adams will receive $50,000 in back pay and an annual salary of $75,000, which is a $9,000 raise.
UNCW spokeswoman Janine Iamunno said the school also agreed to pay $615,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs and to withdraw its appeal of a March verdict in the case.
Adams said the university retaliated after his political and social views changed with his conversion from atheism to Christianity.
A federal jury in Greenville decided in Adams’ favor and ordered UNCW to promote Adams to full professor with future pay and benefits dating back to 2007.