UC Santa Barbara professor claims college shortchanged her $3M, promoted male colleague: suit
A female UC Santa Barbara professor was underpaid by nearly $3 million while a less experienced, white male colleague cashed in, according to a lawsuit.Edwina Barvosa, a Harvard-educated professor of applied social and political theory who has taught at UCSB since 1998, claimed she was paid far less than a man hired eight years after her for the same job, according to the suit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in June.The complaint identifies the colleague only as “Professor Y.” The suit was first reported by the student-run paper, The Daily Nexus.In 2023, Professor Y took home $232,050 in total pay while Barvosa earned $150,317.In 2024, the difference grew to $94,700: $251,700 for him and $157,000 for her.Barvosa claimed she was underpaid at least $991,478 in base salary, or about $2.96 million with interest.
Her lawyers argued the total hit exceeds $30 million once her pension losses are compounded over the next 39 years.The suit claimed the two professors come from similar backgrounds.Both grew up working class and are of Mexican American heritage.
Barvosa claims she has about a decade more experience.“Dr.Barvosa has suffered and continues to suffer extensive harm as a result of defendants’ unlawful employment practices, including, but not limited to, extensive professional, financial, and non-economic damages, as well as physical injuries that have now led to life-threatening illnesses and related emotional harm,” the lawsuit alleged.The suit names the UC Regents, UC President James Milliken, UCSB Chancellor Dennis Assanis, Executive Dean Pierre Wiltzius and Social Sciences Dean Charles Hale.It accused them of violating California’s Equal Pay Act, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.Barvosa is seeking back pay, damages, punitive damages and a court order barring the university from claiming ownership of her scholarly work.UC Santa Barbara declined to comment.
The UC Rege...