In a striking legal battle, a former employee of a prestigious educational institution has taken her grievances to court, alleging serious violations of civil rights and workplace fairness. Princess Mhoon Cooper filed a complaint on March 14, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against The University of Chicago. She claims that the university engaged in retaliation following her reports of harassment and discrimination.
Princess Mhoon Cooper's lawsuit paints a detailed picture of her employment at The University of Chicago from March 2021 until her termination in July 2024. Initially hired as Program Manager and later promoted to Director of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Ms. Cooper alleges she faced persistent discriminatory treatment and a hostile work environment based on race and gender. According to the complaint, this hostile environment was perpetuated by several key figures at the university, including Bill Michel, Executive Director at UChicago Arts; Ellen Peterson, Senior Human Resources Business Partner; and Mylah Diffay, Employee and Labor Relations Manager.
Ms. Cooper’s allegations are rooted in various incidents that unfolded during her tenure. She recounts experiences where requests for promised pay increases were met with hostility despite her successful leadership in securing significant funding for her project. Furthermore, she describes an incident where she was verbally attacked by a colleague during a Zoom call—an episode that colleagues later acknowledged as unfair treatment towards Black women within the institution.
The complaint further details how Ms. Cooper proactively disclosed personal expenses charged to her GEMS card—a university credit card—and arranged for repayment with approval from accounting officials. Despite these measures, she claims this issue was used as pretextual grounds for her dismissal shortly after filing formal complaints about workplace discrimination with both internal HR and external bodies like the EEOC.
In response to these grievances, Ms. Cooper seeks judicial intervention to address what she describes as unlawful retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, violations under the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), breach of contract terms regarding compensation agreements, and racial discrimination contravening Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
The plaintiff is requesting compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress alongside punitive damages aimed at deterring future misconduct by The University of Chicago. Additionally, she seeks reinstatement or equivalent employment opportunities coupled with injunctive relief against further retaliatory actions.
Representing herself pro se in this case is Princess Mhoon Cooper while Judge Sara L. Ellis presides over proceedings with Magistrate Judge Keri L. Holleb Hotaling assisting on matters requiring magistrate oversight under Case ID: 1:25-cv-02724.