Hinds Community College must pay a former professor $345,020 after a federal jury found she had been the victim of workplace retaliation.

Renee Summers-Akers, who taught at Hinds from 1982 until her retirement this spring, alleged she was passed over for a promotion in 2006 because she had aided a colleague who was accusing the college of racial discrimination.

Summers-Akers also alleged she was discriminated against because of her gender. The person selected over her to chair the college’s business administration department was a man with less experience.

According to the verdict reached this week, Summers-Akers was not the victim of gender discrimination.

For her workplace retaliation claim, she was awarded compensatory damages, as well as back pay she would have earned as the department chairwoman and interest.