Ethnic studies professor accused of falsely claiming to be Native American resigns

A professor of ethnic studies on the UC Riverside campus resigns after falsely claiming to be a Native American. Photo: TIMOTHY SWOPE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO/HTTPS://WWW.ALAMY.COM

Professor accused of falsely claiming Indian heritage by colleagues has resigned from her university post.

Andrea Smith will retire next year in accordance with an unusual a separation agreement with the University of California, Riverside, where she teaches in the Department of Ethnic Studies.

The agreement came a year after colleagues said she had «committed fraudulent acts.» claiming to be Native American in violation of the Faculty Code of Conduct regarding Academic Integrity.”

In 2015, Professor Smith wrote, “I have always been and always will be a Cherokee. I constantly identified myself based on what I knew was true.”

However, according to the New York Times, she never registered as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

< p>Under the agreement, the university has agreed not to conduct a formal investigation into the allegations.

Accused by colleagues of falsely claiming her North American heritage, Professor Andrea Smith resigned from the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California. : JOHNNY REDNECK

The informal resolution came after discussions with Professor Smith, who will be eligible for an honorary professorship, although her status will not be listed on the university's websites.

«Professor Smith agrees not to make any assertive claims about the natives . American ancestry in connection with her university work during her tenure at the university,” the agreement document states.

“However, if she is asked about her heritage in connection with her university work, Professor Smith is allowed to disclose her opinion of her Indian heritage.”

The deal

The deal, in which the university agreed to pay Professor Smith's legal fees, avoided a costly legal battle.

Professor Smith is the latest. scientist to be accused of falsely claiming Native American ancestry.

In May, Elizabeth Hoover, a professor of sociology at the University of California, admitted that she erroneously claimed to be Native American based on what she was told by her father.

The Daily Telegraph has reached out to Professor Smith for comment.