She is a tenured associate professor of public policy and education at the university's Peabody College. He has been chancellor at Vanderbilt since 2000. Prior to going to Vanderbilt, Constance Gee was a professor at Brown University, where her husband was president.

The couple's political differences have been well known. In 2004, she signed her name to a petition protesting a decision by Vanderbilt's administration to invite then-National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice to speak and honor her for distinguished service.

"We expect our university to teach students respect for the truth, yet we offer an honor to a person who repeatedly misrepresented the truth to tragic effect," the petition read.

The couple have no children.

Constance Gee's attorney, Rose Palermo of Nashville, declined to comment on the case.

-- Associated Press