A United States-based Nigerian and Carnegie Mellon University professor, Uju Anya, is set to remain on voluntary professional leave following controversy over social media posts attributed to her, including one calling for white men to die.
Carnegie Mellon University said Anya would not teach on campus during the current academic year as it reviews what it described as recent “hostile and threatening” posts made by the academic on social media.
The controversy centres on posts attributed to Anya on X, formerly known as Twitter. Among those circulating widely online is a screenshot in which she appeared to write, “Die first, white man, then ask yourself why I’m dancing.”
“We are deeply concerned by recent hostile and threatening social media posts by Dr Anya and are reviewing this matter closely,” Carnegie Mellon University said. The institution added that Anya is “currently on voluntary professional leave from the university and is not teaching courses on our campus this academic year.”
The university subsequently made clear that the views expressed in the posts were not representative of the institution. “To be clear: These posts incorrectly imply our university’s endorsement and are contrary to our community standards and values as well as our commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and welcoming campus community,” the university said.
The issue also drew the attention of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who commented on X after a post about Anya circulated on the platform. Musk wrote, “This is a real professor at Carnegie Mellon University …” Another X user whose post was shared by Musk said the individual was consulting a lawyer over what was described as a “death threat.”
However, Carnegie Mellon has not linked Musk’s intervention to Anya’s decision to take leave. The university has characterised the leave as voluntary and has not announced that the professor has been suspended, dismissed or otherwise disciplined in connection with the posts.
The controversial professor, also a lesbian, who serves as an associate professor of second-language acquisition at Carnegie Mellon University, has previously faced public scrutiny over statements made on social media.
In 2022, she attracted significant criticism over comments posted as Queen Elizabeth II was dying. Two years later, in 2024, she again became the subject of public attention after posting “It was staged” in response to an assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Carnegie Mellon said at the time that comments made by faculty members on their personal social media accounts did not represent the university’s views.
The university has yet to disclose all of the recent posts being considered as part of its review. It has also not indicated what disciplinary or other action, if any, may result from the ongoing assessment.
As of the latest available report, Anya had not publicly responded to Carnegie Mellon University’s statements regarding the review or her voluntary leave.
