LSU Law School Dean Alena Allen, who was just announced to be stepping down, did not agree to resign and may take legal action against the university for alleged retaliation and discrimination, her attorney told the Reveille.

The university announced Aug. 29 that Allen would transition to a full-time faculty member at the end of the academic year. But Allison Jones, Allen’s attorney, said the dean did not agree to resign from her position when asked Thursday.

Jones said the university’s Board of Supervisors “engaged in systematic discrimination and retaliatory conduct” against Allen after she cited “irregularities” in the law school’s finances, according to The Baton Rouge Advocate. These irregularities occurred when the law school showed it received students’ full tuition despite offering students discounts, according to documents provided to The Advocate.

This led to budget shortfalls with private donations to fill the gap, Allen said in the documents.

Jones said Allen hopes the issues can be resolved so focus can be on the success of the law school.

“She looks forward to working with LSU to ensure the continued success of the Law Center and to taking all necessary steps to protect her legal rights,” Jones said in a statement to the Reveille.

A spokesperson for the university told The Advocate they could not comment on personnel matters.

Allen started in the position in July 2023 and was the first woman and Black person to serve as dean. The search for the new dean adds to the growing list of permanent leadership vacancies at LSU. Currently, the vacancies include the president, provost, chief financial officer and chief data officer.

“In less than a year, LSU has seen the departure of its first Black President, first Black General Counsel, and first Black Executive Vice President for Finance and Chief Administrative Officer,” Jones said in a statement to the Reveille.

The law school jumped in rankings two years in a row in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Schools in America. The university previously credited Allen’s recruitment campaign for the school’s success.

The most notable event during her time as dean was the removal of Professor Ken Levy from teaching and the subsequent lawsuit. Allen testified at Levy’s hearing, where she sided with the students who objected to his political speech in class.