Michigan State trustee Rema Vassar sues university president and fellow trustees, alleging race and sex discrimination

As of 7:55 a.m. ET, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

Michigan State University Trustee Rema Vassar has filed a lawsuit against university President Kevin Guskiewicz and other current and former university officials, alleging they "orchestrated a campaign of intentional discrimination and retaliation against her," The State News reported.

The 40-page complaint, filed Tuesday, says the defendants "intentionally discriminated against Dr. Vassar because of her race and sex, subjecting the first Black woman Chair in the University's history to investigation, publicity, sanction, and deprivation imposed on no similarly situated trustee." It was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, where the case is Vassar v. Quinn, No. 2:26-cv-14012.

Who is named

The suit names Guskiewicz, Board Chair Brianna Scott, Trustee Rebecca Bahar-Cook, former trustees Dan Kelly and Dianne Byrum, General Counsel Brian Quinn, Board Secretary Stefan Fletcher and 10 John and Jane Does, The State News reported. The complaint sues the individual defendants in their individual capacities, and names Scott as chair, Fletcher as board secretary and the members of the board in their official capacities for prospective relief only.

What she is asking for

Vassar seeks a declaration that the revised code of ethics and conduct the board approved in May is "unconstitutional," an injunction against its enforcement, the withdrawal of sanctions and the restoration of her privileges, according to The State News. Vassar and Trustee Mike Balow did not sign the code and were censured for that at the board's June meeting, the paper reported. She is also asking for a "name-clearing" hearing. The complaint says she "seeks no retrospective monetary relief from the State," while it asks for compensatory damages from the defendants sued in their individual capacities. A pre-litigation demand she sent in May had signaled an intent to seek more than $25 million in damages, which is no longer being asked for, The State News reported.

Jonathan Marko, an attorney for Vassar, told The State News that Vassar was elected to "speak her mind" and that "she was retaliated against and tried to be removed by the other members of the board for doing her job."

"The university is prepared to address the claims through appropriate legal channels," MSU spokesperson Amber McCann said, according to the paper.

Background

An investigation by the Washington-based law firm Miller Chevalier, which followed a 2023 letter from Scott alleging misconduct by Vassar, found some instances of misconduct but not all that Scott's letter claimed, and Vassar, Scott and Trustee Dennis Denno were censured as a result, The State News reported. Vassar was also removed as board chair.

What is not known

Vassar did not immediately respond to The State News' request for comment.