UCLA’s sexual harassment and Title IX officer Pamela Thomason is leaving the university to oversee Title IX training and education within the California State University system, UCLA officials announced Friday.
Title IX prohibits discrimination based on gender. A Title IX compliance officer processes campuswide Title IX complaints, including reports of sexual harassment, assault and stalking. He or she also acts as an intermediary between the complainant and accused during an investigation.
Administrators are currently searching for Thomason’s replacement and the open position has been publicly posted, said Kevin Reed, vice chancellor for legal affairs, in an email statement.
In his email statement, Reed said individuals with Title IX complaints should continue to go to the Title IX office until a replacement is found.
CSU officials said they chose Thomason for the systemwide position because of her knowledge and experience working with Title IX complaints, according to their public statement.
In June, University of California President Janet Napolitano appointed Thomason to sit on a task force aimed to improve the UC’s sexual assault prevention efforts.
A state audit recently found that the university provides insufficient sexual assault education to faculty and staff. UCLA is also currently under federal investigation for possible Title IX violations.
Thomason came to UCLA as a Title IX officer in 2000. She worked closely with 7000 in Solidarity, a sexual assault education and prevention campaign, since its launch last fall, said Savannah Badalich, founder of 7000 in Solidarity.
“We are devastated that she’s leaving, but she will be an ally for students at CSU,” said Badalich, the Undergraduate Students Assocaition Council Student Wellness commissioner.
Thomason could not be reached for comment.
Complied by Kendal Mitchell, Bruin staff.