AFSA Member Profile: Michigan State
Marisol Quintanilla and her journey to tenure
AFSA is here to support our member groups in any way that we can. I have a particularly rewarding win for one of our key board members, where our support played a big part that I want to share with you.
Most of you are aware that Michigan State professor and AFSA group founding member Marisol Quintanilla was initially denied tenure by the faculty group for purely philosophical reasons. Marisol is both a devout Christian as well as an opponent of DEI. She made it clear that she believed signing the mandatory MSU DEI statement was against her core beliefs. Her fellow faculty took major exception to that, openly deriding her in meetings and even disrupting her classes. Despite the fact that based purely on performance criteria Marisol was the top rated professor in her Science Department, the initial faculty approval board denied her request for tenure. Her Dean overruled that decision, but the ultimate decision was up to the MSU President and Board who are the final arbiters.
View Marisol’s Story Here
Marisol made us aware of this situation, and AFSA jumped into action. Chris Wojda put Marisol in touch with FAIR - the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism – who wrote the attached letter with their legal counsel making the case for her. I followed with a letter as AFSA Chair, and Doug Monroe rallied the UNC AFSA Board to do the same. Those two letters are also attached.
Yesterday Marisol informed us that she was approved for tenure and thanked us all for our help. I am beyond ecstatic, and cannot say enough about her integrity, courage, and perseverance. AFSA is fighting for intellectual diversity and truth on our university campuses. Wins like this really bring it home. We are making a difference.
Thank you for your support, and God bless Marisol!
Best,
Tom
Thomas M. Neale
Chair
Alumni Free Speech Alliance
Letter of Support From FAIR
Letter of Support From AFSA