(born 1956) Law professor. In 1991 Hill sparked a national debate on sexual harassment in the workplace when she leveled harassment charges against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas at his Senate confirmation hearing. Hill testified that Thomas, previously her boss at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexually harassed her on the job. Thomas denied the charges. Hill’s testimony televised nationwide, transformed the confirmation process into a national educational program on sexual harassment and reinvigorated American feminism. The all-male Senate committee’s questioning of Hill and confirmation of Thomas raised questions about their sensitivity to women’s concerns and helped elect more women to public office.