Marsalis Smith

Marsalis Smith was an 11th-year PhD student in Dr. Patton’s lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Before joining Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Smith reportedly studied physical therapy in South Carolina. Marsalis Smith allegedly retaliated against a disabled colleague after the colleague no longer accommodated Smith’s preferences. The account states that Smith first threatened the colleague and then began a pattern of retaliatory and provocative behavior. Rather than respecting the colleague’s physical limitations and need for a stable workspace, Smith allegedly escalated ordinary workplace matters and framed the colleague’s disability-related reactions as misconduct. Smith reportedly described the disabled colleague as “very scary,” while continuing to approach him and involve himself in situations that increased tension. The alleged behavior included interfering with the colleague’s work environment, reporting him to supervisors over minor conflicts, exaggerating or mischaracterizing the colleague’s speech and movements, and helping create the impression that the colleague was threatening or unsafe. According to the account, Dr. Patton identified Smith as a “marginalized” student who typically worked two or three days a week. Smith’s academic progress and workplace performance appeared far below what would normally be expected in a typical PhD program. The account further alleges that Smith sometimes behaved inappropriately around female students, including touching parts of their bodies such as the shoulder.