Texas A&M University: Professor Investigated, Put on Leave After Criticizing Lieutenant Governor

- What We Do
- What we defend
- Have your rights been violated?
  If you face retaliation over protected speech, reach out to FIREto learn more about how we can protect your rights.
  Submit a Case
- Make a difference
- Take Action
  Across the nation, free speech rights are under attack. Join us in defending this essential quality of liberty. Make your voice heard and join a campaign.
  Protect Free Speech
- FIREStudent Network
  ��ýapp�ٷ�’s 2022 College Free Speech Rankings are based on the voices of more than 44,000 currently enrolled students at 208 colleges and are designed to help parents and prospective students choose the right school.
  Build Your Network
- Resources
- College Free Speech Rankings
  Presented by FIREand College Pulse, the 2025 College Free Speech Rankings is the largest survey of campus free expression ever performed.
- National Speech Index
  The National Speech Index is a new quarterly component of America’s Political Pulse, an ongoing weekly survey that will allow researchers to track shifting free speech sentiment in America over time.
  Learn More
Colleges
News
Cases
About Us
Submit a Case

Home
Cases

Texas A&M University: Professor Investigated, Put on Leave After Criticizing Lieutenant Governor

Cases

Texas A&M University - College Station

Case Overview

Texas A&M University placed Professor Joy Alonzo on leave pending an investigation in March 2023, after Alonzo reportedly criticized Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick during a lecture on the opioid crisis at the University of Texas Medical Branch. After a two-week investigation, Alonzo returned to her faculty position in the Department of Pharmacy Practice. After the Texas Tribune publicized the university’s actions on July 25, FIREurged the university to abide by its legal obligations to respect faculty’s core expressive and academic freedom rights to criticize public officials.

������ýapp�ٷ�

��ýapp�ٷ�