TCCD hires independent group to investigate allegations

An investigation was underway Friday by an independent group into the allegations filed in a federal lawsuit earlier this week against Tarrant County College and Chancellor Eugene Giovannini. Tarrant County College officials announced the investigation on Friday, saying the independent investigation began just after the lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court. The lawsuit, which names Tarrant County College District as the defendant, alleges the college violated several policies in its firing of Dr. Kristen Bennett. Bennett was fired on Jan. 31, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas.

Bennett is seeking reinstatement to her position and damages including lost income. “She didn’t do anything wrong,” said attorney Frank Hill of Arlington, who is representing Bennett, in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this week. “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 Giovannini. According to the lawsuit, all that changed in late July 2021 when a female employee, who was a subordinate to Bennett, fell into a conflict with a fellow employee who complained to Bennett. The lawsuit does not identify the woman. Bennett talked to her subordinate, but the woman continued to cause problems with her team, according to the suit. The lawsuit states the woman was Giovannini’s “girlfriend.” Giovannini then harassed, abused and retaliated against Bennett for speaking to the female subordinate for corrective action, according to the lawsuit. Bennett alleges that the college then violated numerous policies as the district failed to give her written notice of her non-renewal; retaliated for her filing a grievance, placed her on leave, barred her from campus; and denied her right of due process.