UNC Asheville dean fired after Accuracy in Media investigation
June 5, 2025
Accuracy in Media’s investigation into the University of North Carolina at Asheville has received widespread media coverage, caught the attention of politicians, and has even resulted in the termination of the dean who boasted about breaking the Board of Governors’ rules banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Megan Pugh, the now-former Dean of Students for UNC Asheville, told AIM’s investigators she has to keep DEI work “quiet” and on the “down-low,” but that she “loves breaking rules.”
She even claimed the university is supportive of keeping DEI, telling investigators they could possibly host implicit bias trainings in the future.
A representative for UNC Asheville told Fox News the school is “aware” of the video, but Pugh’s “remarks do not represent the practices of UNC Asheville.”
UNC Asheville said that after a “prompt review,” Pugh is “no longer employed by the university” and that the school will “undertake a comprehensive review to reinforce expectations and ensure all employees are aligned with applicable laws and policies.”
“These remarks do not represent the practices of UNC Asheville. The University remains firmly committed to upholding all UNC System policies as well as federal and state laws, both in principle and in practice,” the school claimed in its statement, despite Pugh saying the university is supportive of her attempts to keep DEI.
The statement from UNC Asheville announcing Pugh’s firing and promising a “review” was also covered by national media outlets, including the Daily Wire, The College Fix and Hot Air. Additionally, the Accuracy in Media investigation into UNC Asheville has been featured by Niner Times and Off The Press so far. It was even aggregated from Fox News onto Yahoo News.
More than just receiving media attention, the Asheville story has also gotten the attention of a member of U.S. Congress.
Virginia Foxx, U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, told Fox News, “The UNC System has made a good faith effort to get rid of DEI, but obviously the word has not reached the ears of UNC Asheville’s administration.”
There is still more work to be done to ensure DEI is no longer being spread at North Carolina’s universities. While Pugh and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Janique Sanders may be gone thanks to AIM’s work, DEI is still being disseminated at North Carolina’s universities. Go to SaveNCSchools.com to demand the Board of Governors crack down on even more administrators who brag about evading or breaking the rules.