By Dr. Deborah Bailey
AFRO Contributing Editor
It has been an eventful semester for University of Maryland, Eastern Shore (UMES) and its current President, Dr. Heidi Anderson.
On Oct. 28, Anderson filed suit against former UMES faculty member Donna Satterlee, who accused Anderson of plagiarism in September. The 1-million-dollar defamation lawsuit was filed in Somerset County on Anderson’s behalf by J Walker & Associates, LLC.
Anderson spoke through a statement issued when her case was filed.
“I have tried to remain silent as long as possible, but these continued attacks on my name, my reputation, and my institution must stop. Under the advice of counsel, I have taken legal action and look forward to my day in court,” Anderson said in the release.
Satterlee, a former associate professor of human ecology and child development, was fired by UMES in 2024 and filed a reverse discrimination lawsuit against the University in July 2025. In addition, Satterlee filed a grievance with the University System of Maryland (USM) in September, accusing Anderson of plagiarizing substantive passages of her 1986 doctoral dissertation.
Anderson issued a short letter to the UMES community on Oct. 6, welcoming review of her doctoral dissertation after Satterlee’s accusations of academic dishonesty.
“Recent allegations of plagiarism have been raised regarding my 1986 doctoral dissertation. Integrity, accountability, and trust are the foundations of my leadership, and I take these concerns with the utmost seriousness. Consistent with University System of Maryland policy, there will be an assessment of these allegations.”
The date and information for the academic review of Anderson’s credentials has not been set by USM.
Anderson’s attorney, James L. Walker, stated there was no plagiarism in her dissertation, and they were ready to prove it in the courtroom.
“We stand firmly with Dr. Anderson. After a careful review of her dissertation and all supporting materials, it is clear that no plagiarism occurred under the academic code of conduct in place in the 1980s. When individuals make false and harmful statements, there are consequences,” he said in a statement.
Anderson has served as president at UMES since 2018. A three-time graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Anderson graduated with a doctoral degree in Pharmacy Administration, an MS in education, and a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy.
MacKenzie Scott Foundation makes unprecedented donation to UMES
On Oct. 24, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced a gift of 38 million dollars to UMES, the state’s only land-grant HBCU. The unrestricted gift is the second time Scott’s foundation has donated to UMES, previously awarding the institution 20 million dollars in unrestricted funding in December, 2020.
USM President Jay Perlman was clear in his support for Anderson’s leadership as he endorsed the Scott donation.
“This gift is a resounding vote of confidence in UMES and in the strategic direction President Anderson has set,” Perlman said on the UMES website announcing the Scott Foundation’s contribution.