University professor dismissed for forging dean’s signature

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, August 6, 2026

A University of Warwick professor was dismissed after a tribunal found she forged a senior colleague’s signature on a promotion application. The tribunal upheld the university’s decision, rejecting her claims of unfair dismissal and discrimination, and highlighted that the case focused on her fraudulent actions rather than any bias.

A University of Warwick professor was dismissed after a tribunal found she forged a senior colleague’s signature in an attempt to secure a promotion. Katy Angliss, 55, a chartered engineer specialising in project management, faced disciplinary action after submitting a second promotion application in 2023 that included a falsified letter bearing the signature of Robin Clark, a dean at the university.

Angliss initially applied for a promotion during the 2020-21 academic year at Warwick Manufacturing Group, the university’s research centre focused on applied science, technology, and engineering. Clark, then head of the department, provided a letter indicating Angliss did not meet the criteria for advancement. Despite this, her job title changed in name only to assistant professor, without any substantive change in duties.

Two years later, Angliss re-submitted her application accompanied by an amended version of Clark’s earlier letter. The fraudulent document appeared to show Clark’s support, including a forged signature. The alteration was discovered by Clark’s assistant and reported to the university’s human resources department, triggering an internal investigation. Following the inquiry, Angliss was dismissed in 2024 for gross misconduct.

During the subsequent employment tribunal hearing in Birmingham, Angliss characterised her actions as an “honest mistake” and denied knowledge that her department did not support her promotion. She also pursued legal claims against Warwick for unfair dismissal as well as sex and age discrimination. However, the tribunal rejected her case, concluding that her dismissal was not influenced by factors related to her age or gender.

The panel criticised Angliss’s credibility, stating that she “cannot be considered a reliable witness of truth” due to inconsistencies in her testimony. Judge Jacques Algazy described her as a “relatively senior academic” who breached the trust between herself and the university by submitting a fraudulent document and using Clark’s signature without permission.

Angliss joined Warwick in 2013 as a teaching fellow and had progressed to an assistant professor position by the time of her dismissal. The tribunal’s ruling affirmed that the university’s actions were appropriate in response to the serious misconduct, emphasising that the case centred on the falsification rather than any discriminatory factors.

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