Fired official files lawsuit against Tarrant County College

A fundraising executive at Tarrant County College alleges in a lawsuit that she was improperly disciplined by the institution’s chancellor when the executive began to intervene in conflicts with a subordinate who had a personal relationship with the chancellor. Dr. Kristen Bennett was fired on Jan. 31, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas. The lawsuit, which names Tarrant County College District as the defendant, alleges the college violated several policies in its firing of Bennett. Carol Bracken, associate general counsel for Tarrant County College District, said Tuesday that the college does not comment on pending lawsuits.

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” said attorney Frank Hill of Arlington, who is representing Bennett. “She just got cut to pieces.” Hill said that TCC has a history of wrongfully firing employees. Bennett began her job as executive vice president for advancement on Oct. 1, 2020, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Eastern Kentucky University, an MBA from Midway University and a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and information studies from the University of Kentucky. Bennett is a 22-year fundraising veteran who in 2020 won the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE-Washington, D.C.) Educational Fundraising award, according to the lawsuit. From Oct. 1, 2020, to July 13, 2021, Bennett says, she received nothing but praise from Tarrant County College Chancellor Eugene Giovannini.