Estherville, IA (Northwest Iowa Now) — A local Community College is being sued by a former administrator.

According to an article this week in the Des Moines Register, Erin Latona worked as a Dean and Chief Academic Officer between 2022 and 2025. The lawsuit indicates Latona noticed financial irregularities at the school shortly after she started working there. In mid 2023, she contacted the FBI and federal officials referred her concerns to the State Auditor’s Office for investigation.

The lawsuit claims Latona was illegally fired in retaliation for the “difficult” but “necessary” decision to blow the whistle on misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Iowa Lakes Community College President Scott Stokes issued a statement to the Des Moines Register saying “the college has been advised not to comment on any details of pending litigation, but looks forward to defending the claims and feels confident in its defense.”