By Jessica Rish, Des Moines Register
UI staff return after DEI video investigation; one employee demoted
A University of Iowa staff member has been demoted following a string of DEI-related ‘undercover’ videos, several months of administrative leave, and an ensuing investigation.
The Iowa Board of Regents unanimously agreed to “initiate disciplinary proceedings” following a monthslong investigation, choosing to reprimand one of two UI employees.
University of Iowa officials confirmed that Andrea Tinoco, one of the employees placed on administrative leave in July, returned to work on Monday, March 9. Tinoco was demoted from UI leadership and student organization development assistant director to a project coordinator. She is taking a 5% pay cut, effective April 1, dropping her annual salary from $62,526 to $59,549.
The Board of Regents also investigated Iowa Memorial Union Senior Associate Director Cory Lockwood, who was also secretly recorded. Lockwood’s employment status at the UI remains unchanged, and his annual salary is $117,239. He returned to work on Monday, March 9.
University of Iowa
Both Tinoco and Lockwood were placed on administrative leave in the summer, where they remained until the investigation was completed in February. The UI paid Tinoco $31,503 during her leave and Lockwood was paid $58,168, for a total of $89,671.
Tinoco was recorded without her knowledge in a video posted on Fox News’ website on Tuesday, July 29. The Fox News article accompanying the video said it was filmed “undercover” with a headline, “University of Iowa official brags about skirting a ban on DEI.”
In the nearly four-minute-long video, Tinoco is heard telling an unknown person recording that the UI is finding ways to operate around DEI restrictions, like replacing words like “diversity, equity, inclusion” with phrases like “civic engagement.”
A few days later, Lockwood was secretly recorded in a second video, “Universoty of Iowa,” released by conservative news outlet, Townhall, on Thursday, July 31, with a misspelled title. The video shows Lockwood responding to DEI-related questions.
Lockwood explains to the unknown person filming how the University of Iowa has reframed its language since Gov. Reynolds signed Senate File 2435, saying “you won’t find it by Googling it,” since the UI legally can’t use the words DEI. Instead, he said they use words like “community” and “belonging.” Lockwood also claims, “there’s DEI work happening” at the University of Iowa.
People walk past the Iowa Memorial Union on Madison Street, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen
State of Iowa launches investigation into UI faculty
The investigation was spearheaded by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and assisted by private law firm Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, based in Arlington, Virginia.
The firm has won victories for conservatives at the U.S. Supreme Court, including a 2023 case that declared race-conscious university admissions programs unlawful, and represented President Donald Trump in his efforts to prevent the release of his tax returns.
The videos prompted a response from Gov. Kim Reynolds, who said she was “appalled by the remarks” in the first video. She said she issued a letter to the Regents in early 2025, “reminding university representatives to comply, not only with state law, but an executive order” signed by President Trump ending DEI policies at public institutions.
UI president Barbara Wilson issued a campus-wide message in July, noting that the school was “working diligently to comply with directives.”
“Faith in our institution depends on our unwavering commitment to upholding state and federal laws as well as the policies set forth by our governing board,” Wilson said. “The expectations we have for our faculty and staff are clear and uncompromising: We adhere to the highest standards of conduct, accountability, and transparency.”
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