FAU reinstates professor suspended over Charlie Kirk posts

Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton reinstated associate Professor Karen Leader on Nov. 18 after placing her on paid leave for social media posts about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The institution’s investigation concluded the posts were protected under the First Amendment and did not disrupt campus operations.

FAU opened the inquiry after Professor Leader shared comments on X about Kirk, painting him in a negative light directly after his shooting, which prompted online backlash after Jordan Chamberlain, a former DeSantis staffer, viralized the posts. 

Dr Karen Leader (@proftinkerbell), a professor at Florida Atlantic University, has spent the past 2 days on a tirade calling Charlie Kirk a hateful racist/sexist/transphobe, falsely claiming he used racial slurs, and shared posts from an account called “I smoked Charlie Kirk”… pic.twitter.com/4uWzHjAIiW

— Jordan Chamberlain (@jordylancaster) September 13, 2025

Professor Leader was the first of two FAU faculty members suspended in connection with posts referencing Charlie Kirk assassination, as reported by University Press.

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Campus Reform asked Leader whether she viewed her reinstatement as a First Amendment victory or evidence of administrative pressure on outspoken faculty.

“It is neither,” Leader said. “It was a coordinated effort by state actors (Jordan Chamberlain, former DeSantis staffer, ‘reported’ my reposts) to use doxing and algorithms to harass those they consider ‘enemies.’” 

Leader said online amplification of her posts led to threats and heightened security measures for her classes. 

When asked whether FAU should adopt a clear policy protecting faculty from discipline over personal social media activity, Leader said “No.”

”I believe the upper administration at FAU needs to focus on university priorities—research, teaching, mentorship, student safety, excellence in our diversity—instead of taking orders from ideological flamethrowers,” Leader told Campus Reform.

Leader believes the Trump administration has “endangered” the entire FAU community.

FAU conducted an investigation and applied the legal framework from Pickering v. Board of Education. 

The firm’s final report, provided by University Press, found that Leader’s posts were “speech by private citizens on matters of public concern” and that the activity occurred on personal accounts unrelated to university business. The report also stated it found “no evidence that Leader or Cole disrupted university operations.”

Students with the FAU College Republicans offered mixed reactions to the reinstatement.

Joseph Semprevivo II, the group’s president, told Campus Reform that students “have noticed…that various professors push political ideology in the classroom.” He said course content should remain nonpolitical unless directly tied to academic material.

[RELATED: FAU professor files federal lawsuit after being put on leave for defending Charlie Kirk]

Another member, Isaiah Shank, told Campus Reform that he supports free speech across the political spectrum but objects to rhetoric that appears to celebrate violence. “I believe in free speech for everyone… but I strongly condemn hate speech of any kind, calling for violence, or celebrating the death of someone,” Shank said.

Leader’s reinstatement comes shortly after finance professor Rebel Cole returned to campus. Cole was suspended for posts about Kirk and was reinstated after filing a federal lawsuit on Nov. 12.

Campus Reform has contacted FAU for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.