Professor accused of faking Native American heritage dodges university investigation after agreeing to retire

A California professor accused of lying about being Native American dodged a university investigation into the allegations after agreeing to retire from her position, the New York Times reported Sunday.

Andrea Smith, an ethnic studies professor at the University of California, Riverside, reached an agreement with the school to retire from her teaching position in August 2024, according to a separation agreement obtained by the Times.

The authenticity of Smith’s claimed heritage was initially challenged in 2008 after she was rejected for tenure at the University of Michigan, the Times reported. Smith’s Native American identity was further questioned when it was revealed that she was not enrolled with the Cherokee Nation.

The professor released a statement in 2015 denying the accusations made against her.

“I have always been, and will always be Cherokee. I have consistently identified myself based on what I knew to be true. My enrollment status does not impact my Cherokee identity or my continued commitment to organizing for justice for Native communities,” Smith wrote.

“There have been innumerable false statements made about me in the media,” she continued. “But ultimately what is most concerning is that these social media attacks send a chilling message to all Native peoples who are not enrolled, or who are otherwise marginalized, that they should not publicly work for justice for Native peoples out of fear that they too may one day be attacked.”

In 2022, more than a dozen faculty members filed a complaint with the university claiming that Smith had lied about being Cherokee and, therefore, violated academic integrity.

According to the Times, Smith and the University of California, Riverside, finalized a separation agreement in January. As part of the agreement, the university will not investigate claims that Smith lied about her heritage and will pay up to $5,000 of her legal fees to resolve the faculty members’ complaint.

Smith will continue to teach until August 2024. She is eligible for retirement and an emeritus title. However, that title “will not be listed on the university directory information websites,” the agreement stated.

“Professor Smith agrees to not make any affirmative claims of Native American heritage in connection with her university work for the duration of her university employment,” the agreement added. “However, if asked about her heritage in connection with her university work, Professor Smith is permitted to disclose her opinion on her Native American heritage.”

One of the complainants, UC Riverside ethnic studies professor Gerald Clarke, said, “We’ve lost so much over the last 500 years, you know, and our identity is maybe the most precious thing that we’ve had to help fuel our resistance and our ability to survive in this very day.”

“And for other people to come and commandeer that, you know, it’s very disheartening,” he continued. “As a member of my community, I have an obligation and responsibility to say something.”

A spokesperson for the university told the Times, “The negotiated separation agreement brings a timely conclusion to Professor Smith’s continued employment with the university.”

“Investigations of a tenured faculty member for alleged misconduct have potential for litigation and appeals, and can unfold over the course of years,” the spokesperson added.

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