My experience at National University was deeply damaging and ultimately led me to leave for the sake of my health.
Over time, I experienced a pattern of behavior from leadership that included intimidation, character attacks, and a lack of psychological safety. Concerns raised in good faith were dismissed or reframed as personal deficiencies. Rather than addressing issues, leadership enabled harmful behavior and protected management instead of employees.
An associate director-level leader undermined my credibility, questioned my value publicly, and contributed to a toxic environment that persisted for months. This significantly impacted my reputation and ability to do my job effectively. When I sought support, HR processes felt focused on risk mitigation rather than employee well-being.
The prolonged stress took a real toll on my mental and physical health. I have never experienced this level of burnout or distress in a professional environment before.
