WHEELING — Suspended Wheeling Jesuit University President Ginny Favede filed a civil suit this week against two unknown individuals she asserts posted falsehoods about her online.

The suit filed May 6 states Favede filed the suit in response to “false and defamatory statements, photos, and videos” published on two Instagram accounts — “truth.at.wheeling.university” and “therealwu4u.”

The defendants are named in the civil suit as “John Doe 1” and “John Doe 2.” Their precise identities and locations are unknown, but they are believed to reside in West Virginia, according to the complaint.

“The defendants, upon information and belief, anonymously and maliciously published false and defamatory posts about the plaintiff on the Instagram accounts, specifically targeting the plaintiff in both her personal and professional communities in Ohio County, West Virginia,” the complaint states.

Favede served as president of Wheeling University from July 2019 until Feb. 20, when she was relieved of her duties and suspended with pay effective immediately.

Despite numerous requests, Wheeling University officials have declined to comment further as to the reason for the suspension, or to clarify if she is still being paid by the university.

The complaint filed this week by Favede states the postings began after she terminated a contract with a company responsible for the maintenance of dormitories on campus.

Shortly after, WU “saw an uptick in student protests regarding the conditions at the university, and how the university was being managed,” according to the complaint.

“These criticisms were directed at the university as a whole, and were not personal in nature,” the complaint continued.

Then the two Instagram accounts were created, and frequently the two posters “engaged with one another to boost the popularity of the Instagram accounts,” it stated.

A total of 14 postings directed at Favede are cited in the complaint, and make reference to such matters as the firing of former WU vice president Andrew Lewis, the removal of a long-term employee from campus and modifications authorized by Favede to the “president’s house” at WU.

Another posting accused Favede of lying when reporting the number of students enrolled at WU.

The posts were intended “to ostracize the plaintiff from both her personal and professional communities,” and Favede’s reputation “within both her personal and professional communities has been damaged,” according to the complaint.

Favede seeks damages, punitive damages, and reimbursement for attorney fees through the suit.

She is also seeking injunctive relief to prohibit the publishing of posts “which defame, disparage, or contain libelous statements” about her. Favede also favors the removal of the existing posts called out in the civil suit.

The case has been assigned to Ohio County Circuit Judge Michael Olejasz, but no court action has yet to be scheduled.

Favede is being represented by Wheeling attorney Patrick S. Casey. When contacted Tuesday evening, Favede said she could not provide any additional comment.