UNLV dental school professor files racial discrimination lawsuit

A black professor at UNLV’s dental school is accusing the school, the state of Nevada and the Nevada Board of Regents of racial discrimination in a lawsuit.

Francis Jones, an assistant professor in residence at UNLV, accuses his supervisors of paying him “significantly less than white faculty members with the same or less experience and/or less education,” according to a civil complaint filed April 26 in federal court.

Jones also argues that he was dismissed as the dental school’s continuing education director because of his race.

During the last two years of his 11-year employment, Jones complained to the school and the Board of Regents “various times” about the discrimination he faced, according to the lawsuit.

He claims his supervisors retaliated against him by making his job duties harder, disciplining him wrongfully, refusing to promote him or give him pay raises, and stripping him of his title as the school’s director of continuing education.

Jones, who is represented by attorney Daniel Marks, is seeking reinstatement to his position as director of continuing education, special damages, compensatory damages, attorney’s fees and court costs, according to the lawsuit.

UNLV lawyers filed a motion to dismiss Jones’ claims Monday, arguing that his complaint includes “minimal factual allegations” and fails to show he is entitled to relief.

The motion claims Jones neglected to file charges after each incident of discrimination and points to events that took place over the course of his employment. According to the motion, Jones waited too long after the alleged discrimination to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

According to public salary records, Jones made $119,363 in 2015.

Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find @lauxkimber on Twitter.