Wichita State Professor’s Race, Sex Discrimination Case Advances

A Native American Wichita State professor who says she faced persistent race, sex, and religious-based harassment and discrimination following a special university appointment is poised to have 12 of her legal claims heard by a jury, while 15 others were tossed by a Kansas federal court.

Karen Countryman-Roswurm began teaching social work at WSU in 2010, and in 2013 was a tenure-track assistant professor when she was offered a split appointment to continue teaching while also establishing a university center to study human trafficking.

This appointment angered another professor, who allegedly spread rumors that Countryman-Roswurm had performed sexual favors in ...