Gaudreau alleges that she was reprimanded and ultimately terminated by Tobin after she informed the university about reports of sexual harassment by an employee — something Gaudreau claims she was required to do as a supervisor.

Tobin was not immediately available to comment.

MSU Spokesperson Amber McCann declined to comment on the filing, saying the university doesn't comment on litigation.

According to the lawsuit, Gaudreau reported an incident of sexual harassment within University Advancement to MSU's Office of Institutional Equity in July 2024.

Gaudreau said her supervisor, Tobin, took issue with her submitting the report, expressing concern that a report of sexual harassment from within University Advancement would reflect poorly on the department's leadership.

Tobin allegedly told Gaudreau that she should have first worked with the department’s human resources lead, Assistant Vice President Vivianne Robinson, to resolve the matter internally.

Although Robinson allegedly advised that reprimanding Gaudreau would violate university policy, Tobin continued to criticize Gaudreau's performance following the incident. The complaint states that Tobin became “critical and retaliatory” and questioned Gaudreau's “loyalty."

On Dec. 12, 2024, Gaudreau went to MSU's chief audit, risk and compliance officer with complaints about Tobin's alleged retaliation. The lawsuit states Gaudreau also reported those concerns to the Office of General Counsel.

Gaudreau was then terminated in January 2025, with the explanation being she that was an “at-will” employee. Gaudreau filed an intent to sue the university that June. 

The complaint also wrote that “Tobin has a pattern of retaliating in this manner against her direct reports.” 

Gaudreau is seeking compensation for lost wages, “mental anguish", “emotional distress”, damages to her reputation and “undue harm to her career."

Gaudreau was hired in Nov. 2022, just months after Tobin assumed the role of vice president of advancement in March of that year. 

The lawsuit suggests further disharmony within University Advancement, which has become embroiled in interpersonal conflict and internal concerns over Tobin's "authoritarian" leadership style, The State News reported last year. Interviews with current employees and former employees and public records of consultants' assessment of the department's work culture suggest that staffers perceive that Tobin rewards loyalty and punishes dissent.

Gaudreau's attorney, Sarah Howard, wrote in an email to The State News that MSU has about two months to answer to the initial complaint, but declined to provide further comment.