Florida Atlantic University reinstated art history professor Karen Leader on Tuesday, ending a two-month paid administrative leave that began on Sept. 13.
The university issued the leave after Leader made controversial social media comments about the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. FAU launched an investigation, finding her social media posts protected by the First Amendment, a university spokesperson told the University Press.
The university also placed finance professor Rebel Cole on leave on Sept. 15 over separate social media posts responding to accounts on X. After filing a lawsuit against FAU for his leave on Nov. 12, he was later reinstated at FAU on Tuesday.
Both Cole and Leader are tenure professors; they’re protected by FAU’s collective bargaining agreement. A third professor, Kate Polak, who was put on leave, isn’t a tenure faculty member.
Polak, an English professor, told the University Press that her situation “remains unchanged.” She has consulted with her department chair and is hopefully waiting for the situation to be resolved soon, but has yet to hear any update.
Cole and Leader underwent a review conducted by former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson, whom FAU hired as outside counsel, according to an investigative report obtained from FAU media relations. The report states that the investigation evaluated the university’s actions under Regulation 5.012, which governs employee conduct, administrative leave, and disciplinary procedures.
Leader told the University Press on Sept. 29 that her leave stemmed from posts that went viral after former Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s staffer Jordan Chamberlain shared screenshots of her social media comments. Leader said she “did not celebrate Kirk’s death,” but merely reposted “articles, videos, and quotes documenting his public statements.”
She started being doxxed and receiving death threats after that. Leader hasn’t responded to the University Press for comments about the current update in time for publication.
According to the reports, FAU followed its regulation in placing Leader and Cole on leave, providing notice and review as required, but ultimately concluded that neither professor violated university policy or disrupted university operations.
“Leader’s posts are protected speech under the First Amendment and FAU policy,” the report states. “There is no evidence that Leader or Cole disrupted university operations.”
FAU accepted the findings and allowed both professors to return to work this week. FAU did not release further details about the investigative process but said it “remains committed to the constitutional responsibilities that guide the work of faculty.”
This story is developing and will be updated as new information becomes available.
Emily Ives is a Staff Writer for the University Press. For more information on this or other stories, contact Ives at [email protected].
