Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LITIGATION NEWS, TRENDS—Professor fired for sharing post with Charlie Kirk’s comments settles with public university for $500K after reinstatement, (Jan 9, 2026)
Organizations Mentioned:Austin Peay State University
By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.
The Clarksville, Tennessee university will also pay his therapeutic counseling bill.
A professor who was fired by Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, after sharing an article on social media, following Charlie Kirk’s death by shooting, that quoted Kirk regarding his own thoughts about gun violence, will receive $500,000 from the university, as well as reimbursement for therapeutic counseling services, according to several news sources.
The university acted against the professor after U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn asked on social media, “What do you say, @austinpeay?” with a link to the university’s Facebook page. The university fired the professor, but then shifted action to suspension after realizing that it had denied the employee due process. The university president’s actions led to a proposed resolution of no-confidence by the faculty senate, which was only narrowly defeated. The professor was reinstated to his position at the end of December and the university reportedly sent an email to the campus community stating that due process for a tenured professor had not been followed and the professor would return to his position.
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