Hope Named in Second Discrimination Lawsuit

Laura Hope Among Chaffey College Managers Named in Discrimination Lawsuit

PALM DESERT — Laura Hope, interim superintendent/president of College of the Desert, is among Chaffey Community College managers who are named in a discrimination lawsuit that alleges “racially motivated” treatment.

This marks the second lawsuit of its kind for Hope. She was also named in a civil discrimination lawsuit in San Bernardino Superior Court. The plaintiff is an African-American male. The lawsuit was filed in April 2024. The plaintiff, employed at Chaffey since 2011, alleges that unlawful discrimination went into full motion around October 2020 and continued until the day of his termination.

The latest discrimination lawsuit was filed in August.

Hope at one time said she would apply for the permanent post as superintendent/president position only to back out shortly thereafter. She gave no reason.

In the latest discrimination lawsuit, JoAnn Alvarez, who was an Associate Professor of Program & Services Review at Chaffey College, according to her LinkedIn profile, claims Hope was among those who “repeatedly and continuously humiliated, embarrassed, bullied, stalked, and degraded” her.

The defendants’ actions interfered with her teaching and specifically stripped her of her job responsibilities and related to her administrative duties.

“Because of unlawful acts which have been continuing for years, Dr. Alvarez has become severely ill, both emotionally and physically,” according to the 35-page complaint.

Uken Report reached out to Hope and received the following statement from Nicholas Robles, Interim Public Information Officer, “College of the Desert acknowledges the inquiry regarding a legal matter involving Interim Superintendent/President Laura Hope, related to her previous role at Chaffey College. As Hope was acting within the course and scope of her employment at Chaffey, she is being represented by Chaffey College’s legal counsel. Therefore, all questions and requests for comment should be directed to Chaffey College’s legal counsel or communications office.”

It is the District’s practice to not comment on pending litigation, Mark Vidal, director of marketing and public relations at Chaffey College. . This matter is being handled by the District’s outside litigation counsel at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore. “The District is committed to ensuring a workplace free of discrimination, harassment or retaliation,” Vidal wrote in an email.

An attorney for Liebert Cassidy Whitmore was not immediately available for comment.