Editor’s Note: This story is still developing and will be updated as new information becomes available.
Former Dean of Students Audrey Pusey has opened a civil rights lawsuit against Florida Atlantic University’s Board of Trustees on the basis of sex discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, and age discrimination. The suit was entered on the docket Dec. 28, 2025.
Pusey served as Interim Dean of Students from 2017-19 and then Dean of Students from 2021-23. She then resigned from FAU on Feb. 19, 2025, after alleging discriminatory treatment and filing multiple HR complaints.
The suit was filed by Pusey and her legal counsel shortly after receiving a right-to-sue notice from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Sept. 30, 2025, stemming from complaints dating back to June 24, 2024.
FAU has yet to file any response or defense in the lawsuit and has 21 days from the date of the summons, Dec. 29, 2025, to do so in a federal court.
When asked whether the university has responded or plans to respond to the civil rights and employment suit brought against the BOT, a university spokesperson wrote in an email to the University Press, “Florida Atlantic University does not comment on pending litigation.”
According to the complaint, Pusey alleges that senior administration at FAU subjected her to a pattern of discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment during her employment.
The basis of the suit is that Pusey was qualified for her position as Dean of Students, with 23 years of experience and high-performance evaluations throughout her career. Additionally, she was protected under Title VII as a woman.
When asked about speaking on the record about her lawsuit, Pusey wrote to the University Press, “Unfortunately, I am unable to make a comment on this matter at this time.”
Pusey claims she was deliberately excluded from high-level meetings attended by her male counterparts, as well as from important decision-making processes and leadership opportunities. Her suit states that while her institutional responsibilities were reduced, male coworkers received increased opportunities, benefits in pay, and overall support.
“Ms. Pusey was told she would no longer have a budget for the Dean of Students office and her requests for resources were denied, even as male colleagues (including Brian Fisher) received increased budgets, accelerated salary increases, and additional staff support,” as stated in the complaint. Brian Fisher is the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Operations.
The University Press has submitted a request for public records of the annual salaries of counterparts Brian Fisher and Brian Montalvo, as mentioned in the filed complaint, as well as that of Pusey’s annual salary for the fall 2024 semester, to back up these claims. The University Press did not receive such documents at the time of publication.
The complaint further alleges that Pusey was subjected to repeated sexist and ageist remarks by colleagues and supervisors, including comments and jokes that referenced her age and gender.
“Ms. Pusey was also subjected to age-based discrimination, including an incident on August 19, 2023, when Brian Montalvo made a “cougar” comment during a Red & Blue event in front of over 4,000 students and families,” as stated in the complaint. FAU hosts Red & Blue events during the first week of the semester to welcome students to the university. Pusey then brought this concern to her supervisor and the Vice President of Student Affairs, Larry Faerman, and further requested department-wide training to prevent such language.
Following this incident, Pusey claims that Faerman made an ageist joke in a Student Affairs Directors’ Meeting: “… he stated before telling the joke that it was “going to sound ageist”, showing that he had full knowledge of the discriminatory tone of the joke. He proceeded to tell the joke after Brian Montalvo chimed in, saying, ‘That’s ok, this is a safe space,’” as stated in the complaint.
Another alleged incident occurred Sept. 20, 2024, when Pusey asked facilities representative Paulo Brida about moving a “modesty panel” on the side of her desk, as its position prevented visitors from sitting across from her.
The suit states that “In response to this reasonable and work-related request, Paulo Brida made a sexually inappropriate comment, stating: ‘Well, maybe you want to keep it because, you know, if you’re wearing your mini-skirt you don’t want everyone to see.”
It is noted that these instances, along with others claimed in the lawsuit, had adversely affected Pusey’s well-being. “The hostile work environment severely impacted Ms. Pusey’s health, causing multiple documented emotional breakdowns in administrators’ offices, weight gain, elevated blood pressure, a doubling of her depression medication, memory issues, fatigue, and anxiety.”
In relation to these incidents, Pusey received crisis treatment from the Delray Center for Healing around March 15, 2023
It was in October of 2024 when she went on FMLA medical leave (Family Medical Leave Act) as a result of “the cumulative impact of years of discrimination, retaliation, and hostility within the Division,” per the lawsuit.
“Defendant knew or should have known of the harassment, as Ms. Pusey made over 19 formal and informal complaints to various university officials, including supervisors, HR personnel, and the Title IX Coordinator, yet Defendant failed to take prompt and effective remedial action,” stated the suit.
The University Press has submitted a request for public records of the complaints made to HR personnel to back up these claims. The University Press did not receive such documents at the time of publication.
Then on Feb. 16, 2025, she submitted her resignation, effective Feb. 19, 2025.
The lawsuit asks the court to rule in Pusey’s favor and award damages, including back pay, front pay, compensation for emotional distress, attorney’s fees, and any additional relief that the court deems appropriate.
Ava Hilton is the News Editor for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or direct message Hilton on Instagram @a.vahilton10.
