A University of Connecticut (UConn) professor has been fired following a third investigation into allegations he solicited a relationship with a student through text messages that violated the school’s anti-discrimination policy.
In April 2026, UConn’s Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights (formerly the Office of Institutional Equity) opened an investigation into Ricardo Salazar-Rey, formerly a history professor at UConn’s Stamford campus, over allegations he solicited a romantic relationship with a student. Records obtained by Inside Investigator alleged Salazar-Rey encouraged his students to communicate with him via text rather than email. In text messages with the student at the center of the complaint, Salazar-Rey said he thought the student might be his soulmate and expressed a desire to have young children with her.
Salazar-Rey was previously investigated twice for similar behavior, including allegedly attempting to kiss a student who dropped him off at his residence and soliciting a romantic relationship from another student.
UConn’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence bans all amorous relationships between faculty and undergraduate students on the grounds that the “power difference inherent in the faculty-student or staff-student relationship means that any amorous relationship between a faculty or staff member and a student is potentially exploitative or could at any time be perceived as exploitative.”
On October 20, Senior Vice Provost Amy Gorin sent a letter notifying Salazar-Rey he was being terminated, effective immediately. Because Salazar-Rey’s termination was for serious misconduct, he is not eligible for salary or benefit continuation. Gorin also wrote that Salazar-Rey’s health benefits will be terminated on November 1.
According to the letter, David Amdur, Salazar-Rey’s union representative, requested a hearing under the terms of UConn’s collective bargaining agreement with UConn-AAUP on September 1. An initial hearing occurred on September 16.
On October 2, Manuela Wagner, the associate dean in the Department of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages in the College of Liberal Arts and sciences, and Stamford Campus Dean Jennifer Orlikoff recommended Salazar-Rey be terminated.
Amdur appealed the recommendation and a hearing took place on October 16.
According to the termination letter, Amdur requested that both hearings be held remotely because Salazar-Rey is currently residing in California. While UConn officials agreed in order to prevent delays in the proceedings, they objected because Salazar-Rey was on “aid administrative leave and were expected to be available for University business, including in-person hearings.”
“Based upon my review of the evidence, your response at the appeal hearing, and extensive consideration, I find that your actions violated University policies.” Gorin wrote. “I also find that your conduct in this matter and your disciplinary record constitutes just cause for termination of your University employment.”
Gorin’s letter also referenced OICR’s investigation into Salazar-Rey’s conduct, which found his behavior amounted to sexual harassment.
“OICR determined that your communications became unwelcome as they grew in frequency and became increasingly personal and romantic in nature. It further found that your conduct in the frequency, tone, content, faculty-student power dynamic, and resulting impact on the student, was sufficiently pervasive to interfere with the student’s educational environment and constituted hostile environment sexual harassment.” Gorin wrote.
Under UConn’s collective bargaining agreement with AAUP, tenured-faculty may be terminated for just cause for “sexual harassment, serious misconduct, or other conduct which impairs the rights of faculty, students, employees, or others who are engaged with the University in its business or operations.”
Gorin wrote that Salazar-Rey acknowledged his behavior was a “pattern of behavior” and not an “isolated incident” at the October 16 hearing.
“You explained that your conduct was driven, in part, by personal and family challenges, including difficulties arising from the sale of your family farm in Guatemala and concerns regarding your parents. You further acknowledged that, when confronted with difficult personal circumstances, you improperly sought emotional support and personal connections within the UConn community and recognized the need to establish relationships and support networks outside of the University.” Gorin wrote.
However, she noted that Salazar-Rey disputed OICR’s findings. Salazar-Rey also disputed OIE’s findings substantiating a 2023 complaint, the second made against him, and allegations he solicited a romantic relationship through text message with that complainant.
“Specifically, you maintained that your conduct was not inappropriate because you did not intend to pursue a romantic relationship or become the student’s boyfriend. This response demonstrates a continued failure to fully appreciate the nature and seriousness of the misconduct and the professional boundaries required of faculty.” Gorin wrote.
Gorin added that Salazar-Rey was “unable to provide meaningful assurances” when asked why UConn should have confidence he would not engage in similar behavior in the future.
“Instead, you stated that your son had helped to address some of your personal challenges and that you intended to develop relationships outside the University, dedicate time to social and emotional support networks, and avoid turning to members of the University community for support when personal difficulties arise.” Gorin wrote. She added that while those statements acknowledged that Salazar-Rey needed to change his behavior, they did not identify and “concrete safeguards, corrective measures, or accountability mechanisms sufficient to ensure that similar misconduct would not recur.”
Salazar-Rey can still appeal his termination through arbitration.
Editor’s Note: Sexual misconduct on college campus is a topic Inside Investigator continually covers as part of our ongoing mission to root out corruption. Read our multi-award-winning investigation about sexual misconduct at CSCU here and our follow-up investigation about sexual misconduct at UConn here. If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual misconduct on college campuses, reach out to our team: https://insideinvestigator.org/submit-a-tip/
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