Winthrop Responds to False and Misleading Accusations from Former Counsel (04/30/26)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Board Chair Joel Hamilton and President Edward Serna denied the allegations of race discrimination against Winthrop in a joint statement to the campus community.
• They expressed pride that Winthrop's student body reflects the racial demography of the state, and that members of the campus community share a sense of belonging where they are appreciated for what they bring to Winthrop.

ROCK HILL - On April 27 Winthrop University's Board Chair and President responded publicly to address false and misleading accusations made recently by a disgruntled former employee, Todd Hagins, who has engaged in a retaliatory campaign to harm Winthrop, its students and personnel, and the Rock Hill university's reputation across South Carolina and the country.

Board Chair Joel Hamilton and President Edward Serna denied the allegations of race discrimination against Winthrop in a joint statement to the campus community. The pair noted Winthrop's long and proud history of openness, equal opportunity, and non-discrimination. They expressed pride that Winthrop's student body reflects the racial demography of the state, and that members of the campus community share a sense of belonging where they are appreciated for what they bring to Winthrop.

In recent years, Winthrop's minority enrollment has been on the upswing. Enrollment of Black/African-American students has increased from Fall 2023 to Fall 2025 from 30.5% to 33.3%. Winthrop has 40% first generation students, providing access and opportunity. The university currently has more people of color in the President's Cabinet than at any time in the past. For many years, Winthrop has led South Carolina's four-year state universities in meeting goals for recruiting, retaining and promoting minorities and women, according to the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. Winthrop has long been and continues to be one of the most diverse public campuses in the state.

Hamilton and Serna stated their agreement with a recent faculty statement noting that "it is important that all employees be held accountable for their words and actions in the workplace" and said that sentiment aligns with Winthrop's response when, in 2024, the university received a complaint about racially insensitive comments by a university employee.

"We are affirming that Winthrop conducted a prompt, thorough, and professional investigation of the internal employee complaint and took appropriate remedial action," Hamilton and Serna said in the statement. "That is our duty under the law. We take that responsibility seriously and are letting you know since that time we have received no similar complaints about that employee."

There is no place for racial comments or racial insensitivity within Winthrop, the leaders continued, and said steps have been taken to ensure compliance with these expectations.

This complaint, coupled with the appropriate discharge of Hagins from employment with Winthrop in September 2024, has led to a litany of false allegations and attacks against Winthrop. For example, Hagins claims that the return to a former student government model (Student Government Association) from the Council of Student Leaders was taken by the Board to reduce minority involvement. In fact, it was CSL, a majority of whose members were Black/African-American, that formed a committee to investigate the best form of student representation, and it was the CSL which asked the Winthrop Board of Trustees to make the change back to SGA.

Hamilton and Serna said that Hagins' false allegations were the centerpiece of a Charge of Discrimination against Winthrop with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2025, challenging his discharge from employment for cause. Winthrop provided a detailed response, and the EEOC recently dismissed Hagins' charge, stating that the dismissal was "based on the Commission's decision that further investigation would not likely lead to a finding of a violation of the statutes cited in the charge."

Hagins also has filed a state court lawsuit against Winthrop for allegedly violating the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"). However, Hamilton and Serna said the university continued to follow the exact FOIA practices Hagins determined and followed during his time as General Counsel and Secretary to the Board. Hagins also attempted to retaliate against two Board officers by improperly naming them as parties in his lawsuit. A S.C. Circuit Court Judge granted Winthrop's motion to dismiss these individuals from this lawsuit as the claims against them were frivolous.

Hamilton and Serna shed light on a counterclaim against Hagins for legal malpractice that Winthrop filed in response to Hagins' attacks. Winthrop's counterclaim is supported by an expert witness affidavit of a respected law professor. In response to this counterclaim, Hagins sought defense coverage from the S.C. Insurance Reserve Fund and was recently denied coverage. Hamilton and Serna said that Winthrop will continue to defend the lawsuit vigorously and pursue a verdict for the university.

Despite pending litigation, Hagins has taken his attacks outside of the court system. He recently attempted to interfere with the election by the South Carolina General Assembly of certain positions on Winthrop's Board of Trustees. These attempts also were unsuccessful.

"Winthrop believes Mr. Hagins' recent actions to be ones of desperation. He has again sought public attention to advance his personal vendetta through circulation of a lengthy unsworn statement full of false and misleading accusations," Hamilton and Serna stated. "It is not a coincidence that he has escalated his smear campaign and retaliatory efforts shortly after the dismissal of his EEOC charge, shortly after Winthrop's filing of an expert affidavit against him, shortly after his attempt to obtain defense coverage was denied, and shortly after his efforts to stop proper Board elections failed.

"Initially we had reservations about responding to these allegations in large part because these are personnel matters. However, as Hagins' efforts of retaliation continue and come at a time when we as a campus community are celebrating the achievements of our graduating students, we believe that we must set the record straight."

The university will see approximately 722 students graduate on May 9.

Hamilton and Serna noted that Hagins' negative attacks come at a time when there is much to be excited about on campus. They credited support of the Winthrop community, the board and administration, the public, and the General Assembly for the following achievements:

A 12% increase in total enrollment over the last three years, double-digit increases in new freshmen and new transfer students from 2024 to 2025, and fall-to-spring retention of 90% (compared to the national average of around 70%).
A near record-level year of fundraising during the 2024-25 fiscal year with nearly $8 million raised, reflecting a 73% increase in total giving over the previous fiscal year. The university's largest ever cash gift of $2.5 million last month.

A dramatic increase in partnerships, including the announcement of Winthrop last week as an Innovation Hub, one of six in the state, as part of a South Carolina Research Authority initiative designed to accelerate investment and strengthen South Carolina's emerging technology ecosystem.

"The Winthrop: United in Excellence strategic plan unveiled two years ago continues to drive these and other institutional achievements and solidifies Winthrop's role as an important contributor impacting not only education, but also innovation, economic and workforce development, as well as overall quality of life in the region," the leaders noted. "This journey to excellence will continue."

For more information about Winthrop's position statement to the EEOC, click the link here. For the expert affidavit related to Winthrop University's counterclaim against Hagins, click the link here.