Fresno State Professor Who Bragged She Couldn’t Be Fired Gets Reality Check

On Wednesday, the Fresno State professor who bragged on social media that she couldn’t be fired because she is tenured got a harsh reality check from Fresno State’s Chief Academic Officer (CAO).

During a press conference that was held to address professor Randa Jarrar’s offensive tweets, CAO Dr. Lynnette Zelezny said that tenured employees are not exempt from firing.

“The technical question you are asking me is: ‘Does tenure mean that you technically cannot be fired?'” Zelezny said. “The answer to that is no.”

Clarifying her answer, Zelezny said, “You can be fired. There are certain processes that we have to follow but there are certainly situations where a tenured faculty person can be fired.”

Following the backlash she received online, Jarrar locked her Twitter account and wrote that she is “currently on leave from Fresno State.”

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The Washington Post added that “her future interactions with students may be in question.” Zelezny did not outline any specific disciplinary actions against Jarrar, stating only that officials are going to meet with “all represented parties.”

Zelezny went on to state that Jarrar has been on leave for the entire current semester and that she is not currently teaching any classes.