Syracuse, N.Y. — A jury ended a long-standing legal confrontation on Friday, awarding a former professor substantial damages following allegations of pay discrimination at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The case highlighted ongoing concerns about gender disparities in academia.
Brenda Nordenstam, an associate professor who brought the lawsuit, originally filed a complaint in 2009, claiming that she was paid less than her male counterparts because of her gender. This, Nordenstam argued, hindered her from progressing to a full professorship as her responsibilities increased, preventing her from keeping up with necessary academic work.
The verdict came after a 12-year legal battle through the state courts, granting Nordenstam $5,000 in back pay for the period between January 2009 and August 2010. However, the jury awarded her a far greater sum of $2 million for mental anguish and damage to her professional reputation.
At 68, Nordenstam expressed relief and vindication following the resolution of the lawsuit. She described the outcome as a monumental removal of a burden that had shadowed her professional and personal life for nearly 15 years.
Nordenstam began her tenure at SUNY ESF as an assistant professor in the 1990s, earning tenure by 2000 and then a promotion to associate professor in the environmental studies department. According to court documents, despite her success in securing research grants and mentoring doctoral candidates, she earned less than a less experienced male colleague.
Her attorney, A.J. Bosman, detailed that Nordenstam went on medical leave in 2009, with her emotional wellbeing substantially deteriorated due to the situation at the college. This development effectively ended her aspirations to advance further in her academic career.
Despite the college being reached out for a comment, there was no immediate response from their spokesperson.
The case, initially dismissed by a judge in 2018, was reinstated on appeal in 2020, which allowed Nordenstam to proceed to trial. Throughout the extensive duration of her legal struggle, Nordenstam remained committed to advocating not only for herself but also for other women facing similar discrimination issues in the workplace.
Her persistent determination underscored a broader narrative of aspiring professionals who encounter systemic obstacles. This landmark case serves to remind academic institutions of the importance of equitable treatment and the potential repercussions of failing to uphold these principles.
In a time where discussions about gender equity remain ever pertinent, Nordenstam’s case sheds light on the personal and professional tolls such inequities can exact, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms across educational sectors.
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