Angelina College Angelina College
@angelinacollege on X: "We are fortunate to have the beautiful Angelina Center for the Arts on our campus for both students and members of the community to enjoy! #BeARoadrunner" Screenshot from Angelina College Official X Account

A college in Lufkin, Texas settled a recent race discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Black employee.

The college, called Angelina College, has particularly agreed to pay $315,000 to Dr. Monica Peters-Clark, who was hired in 2005.

Dr. Peters-Clark alleged that the college did not consider her qualifications for a leadership position she previously had an experience before. Instead, it was given to an "unqualified" white candidate instead.

In 2017, before her layoff as part of the administrative restructuring, Dr. Peters-Clark had been the Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness.

Allegations of Discrimination

Fast forward to 2022, Yahoo News reported that Angelina College advertised a new executive director position. This was similar to Peters-Clark's previous position before her layoff, which means she was qualified and had made many contributions to the college. However, she was not considered for the position.

Instead, Angelina College gave the position to a white candidate, and it was only after local concerns were raised that Peters-Clark was interviewed. Still, the position was given to the white candidate, and Peters-Clark filed a grievance and then a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission, which was dismissed.

June 2023 saw Peters-Clark file a lawsuit against Angelina College alleging discriminatory hiring procedures. She appealed for a review of the employment discrimination on racial grounds. Papers filed in the court showed fears over the unbalanced selection procedure that Angelina used in its recruitments, an action that they termed as racist.

The case was to be heard in November 2024, per The Lufkin Daily News. However, both parties settled on the case and avoided the trial. The settlement amount was $315,000.

According to Peters-Clark's lawyers, the settlement is a win that vindicates her claims. The representatives of Peters-Clark blamed the college president, Dr. Michael Simon, for creating the environment that prompted the lawsuit.

Despite the challenges, Peters-Clark continued to support Angelina College and its positive impact on the community. Her legal team urged the college's board to examine President Simon's actions and hiring practices to ensure accountability and inclusivity in the future.