Xavier Dillard Wins Wrongful Termination Suit Against Kentucky State University

Kentucky State UniversityXavier Dillard has won his case against Kentucky State University (KSU). A jury ruled unanimously in Dillard’s favor, supporting his claim that he should have been protected by that state whistleblower law when KSU fired him in 2018.

“I’m just glad that the jury has seen what was really going on, and was able to help students,” said Dillard after the verdict came in.

Dillard will receive roughly $161,500 in lost wages and $200,000 for emotional damages and distress.

Dillard ran the KSU Student Support Services office, helping first-generation, low-income students and students with disabilities. During his time at the university, a student informed him they had been sexually harassed by Justin Mathis, the former director of KSU admissions.

Dillard allegedly reported this incident to the board, but nothing changed. So, at midnight on Oct. 22, 2018, Dillard sent an email to internal and external accounts detailing instances of sexual harassment between administrators like Mathis and students. He also communicated his concerns about the funding distribution his office was receiving. He was fired by KSU later that same day.