An OU communication professor resigned earlier this month, alleging months of harassment and discrimination from the communication department chair.
OU Daily obtained an email Yaguang Zhu sent to his students after announcing his resignation during class Nov. 6 in which he wrote that he had resigned due to “an unresolvable disagreement” between himself and the communication department chair.
The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences website lists Timothy Levine as a professor and chair of the communication department, but he is not explicitly named in the email. Levine denies claims he was harassing Zhu.
Former OU communication professor Yaguang Zhu.
“Since this individual joined OU in January 2025, I have experienced ongoing instances of bullying, discrimination, and disrespect throughout the annual and tenure review processes,” Zhu wrote. “Unfortunately, I no longer feel that I can teach effectively or healthily under such conditions.”
Each year, a department’s chair and a group of its faculty members conduct evaluations from November to March on each faculty member's performance, according to OU Human Resources.
The Daily obtained four documents regarding Zhu’s evaluation, which was conducted by Levine and two communication professors.
According to a letter evaluating Zhu’s progress toward tenure, Zhu was given a score of 2.5 out of 5 for research, 1 out of 5 for teaching and 1 out of 5 for service for his 2024 evaluation. According to the letter, the low score in teaching was due to several canceled classes that were marked as “workday — NO CLASS” in the syllabus.
According to Zhu, Levine said Zhu deserved “the lowest rating ever.”
Zhu told the Daily in an interview Nov. 13 that he told Levine he had not canceled classes and asked to appeal the decision. Zhu said Levine told him the decision could not be appealed.
According to the letter, Zhu’s service was rated a 1 because of a letter the dean of the Graduate College, Randall Hewes, sent Levine, stating Zhu’s service on the Graduate Council did not meet expectations.
Zhu said that in a separate meeting, Levine told Zhu his lack of participation on the Graduate Council hurt the department’s reputation. According to the 2024-25 minutes of the Graduate Council’s monthly meetings, Zhu was present at six meetings from October 2024 to March 2025 and was absent at one meeting in September 2024. For two meetings conducted in April and May, Zhu was not listed among those present or absent.
“I was sitting there actually shocked … and, this is going to be so traumatic to say (but) he made fun of my eyes because that day I did not have my correction glasses and he (did) this,” Zhu said as he pulled on the sides of his eyes to resemble Levine’s alleged action.
“(He) said, ‘Can you look at me in your eyes?’" Zhu said. “I felt so disrespected as an individual.”
A headshot of Timothy Levine, chair of the Dodge Family of Arts and Sciences Department of Communication.
Levine denied that he made comments harassing or discriminating against Zhu.
“All communication with him was co-written by three people and communicated by three people, …” Levine said. “Whatever he is objecting to is in writing and was done by multiple people and has been reviewed at the dean’s level and provost level.”
According to OU’s non-discrimination policy, the university, including faculty, staff and students, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin in any policies, practices or procedures.
“My understanding is that (discrimination) would be illegal and I think it’s absolutely against university policy,” Levine said. “If somebody did that they would probably be on suspension and without pay.”
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael Markham wrote in an email to the Daily Nov. 13 the Department of Communication has full confidence in Levine’s leadership.
“I can confirm that the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences has closely monitored and thoroughly reviewed all personnel matters regarding Dr. Zhu,” Markham wrote. “Based on the information we have reviewed, we have full confidence in Dr. Tim Levine’s leadership as chair of the Department of Communications.”
Dean of Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Michael Markham during interview on July 1.
Zhu said he canceled a class about two weeks ago because his child had to go to the hospital. He said he later heard from a colleague that Levine allegedly joked to other faculty members about having Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers visit Zhu’s home to “make sure he was OK.”
Levine denied the accusation when asked about it by the Daily.
“No, I don’t think anything like that was said,” Levine said.
Levine confirmed he will be taking over Zhu’s classes for the remainder of the semester. His first day teaching was Nov. 11.
“We looked at all of the available teaching options and everybody’s already teaching a full load, so I’m taking on unpaid overload to teach it, …” Levine said. “I’m just going to have to go in and do my best in a very difficult situation.”
One student, who requested to remain anonymous due to fear of possible retaliation, told the Daily Nov. 11 that most of Zhu’s students seemed uncomfortable with Levine taking over the classes after hearing the accusations.
“After (Levine’s first) class, we were just really thrown off by this guy, …” the student said. “People don’t even want to show up to class, they’re literally that uncomfortable.”
Mallory Mitchell, another one of Zhu’s former students, told the Daily Thursday that Zhu was many students’ favorite professor in the communication department.
“We all trust and love Dr. Zhu — everyone wants his classes, …” Mitchell said. “He was a great teacher.”
Zhu said he prepared lesson plans for his classes for the remainder of the semester, but added that a student told him that those were not given to the students.
“I’m shocked, and I’m pessimistic about this,” Zhu said. “They deserve the best education possible.”
The student said Levine told the class there will not be any more assignments for the semester and the final will be a one-page paper on what the students learned from the class.
The Daily reached out to OU Marketing and Communications and asked 10 questions about Zhu’s resignation. OU Marketing and Communications replied with a statement.
“Yaguang Zhu resigned from the University of Oklahoma. The University does not comment on individual personnel matters. The University is committed to ensuring that students’ academic progress is not disrupted in any staffing change.”
This story was edited by Natalie Armour, Ana Barboza, Anusha Fathepure and Thomas Pablo. Mary Ann Livingood, Sophie Hemker and Gretchen Schultz copy edited this story.
