Rochelle Hoffman, a former Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) staffer at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, has received a $265,000 settlement after filing a lawsuit against the university, alleging race-based discrimination. The case emerged in 2023 following Hoffman’s promotion to interim director of the campus’s Multicultural Student Services office, a role intended to serve students of color. The decision sparked significant backlash, with students and staff reportedly expressing doubts about her suitability for the position, citing her race as a factor.
Hoffman’s lawsuit accused the university of subjecting her to hostility due to her race, claiming that staff and students questioned her ‘legitimacy’ for the role. She described the environment as hostile, with incidents including students commenting on her race and questioning her effectiveness in the position. Despite her dedication to DEI initiatives, Hoffman said she ultimately felt compelled to resign after eight months in the role.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Hoffman emphasized her decade-long commitment to teaching and working with first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. She stated that her role at UW-Eau Claire was intended to expand data-informed academic interventions that improved retention and graduation rates among students of color. However, she claimed that her efforts were undermined by the university’s actions, which she alleged were unlawful discrimination.
The settlement, which Hoffman’s lawyer described as a way to avoid further litigation, does not admit liability on the part of the university. The university denies any wrongdoing and claims the settlement is a means to resolve the matter and ‘buy their peace.’ Hoffman’s lawyer clarified that the case was not about opposing DEI programs but rather about addressing unlawful discrimination against an employee who had successfully championed those programs.
Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for comment, but the university has not yet responded. The case has raised broader questions about the role of DEI initiatives in higher education and the potential for workplace discrimination within such programs. As the legal process concludes, the incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in academic settings.