An Iowa district court jury ruled that Iowa State University engaged in willful wage discrimination against former professor Silvia Cianzio, finding the institution underpaid her by approximately $725,000 since 2009, when the state’s equal pay legislation became effective. A judge subsequently ordered the university to pay Cianzio nearly $2.8 million in damages.
Cianzio’s discovery of the pay disparity occurred while she served as chair of the agronomy department’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee in 2020. After identifying significant differences between her compensation and that of her male colleagues spanning multiple years, she pursued internal resolution efforts before filing a lawsuit against the institution in 2022. Following her discovery of the underpayment, Cianzio retired from the university.
Attorney Ann Brown, representing Cianzio, indicated that her client views the outcome as a vindication of her claims. Brown characterized the case as significant for employers, suggesting it should motivate organizations to proactively address wage inequities affecting women and other protected classes to avoid legal exposure and liability.
Iowa State University issued a statement rejecting the jury’s determination and indicating its intention to pursue an appeal. The institution maintained that evidence presented throughout the trial supports the position that its compensation practices comply with applicable law and contain no discriminatory elements based on gender or other protected statuses.
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