Pollonais named to diversity and inclusion role at Manchester
Maegan Pollonais has been named assistant director of student diversity and inclusion at Manchester University.
This is in addition to her role as director of Schwalm Hall, which houses upper-level undergraduate students.
In her expanded responsibilities, Pollonais will manage day-to-day operations of the Jean Childs Young Intercultural Center and assist in developing and retaining students of color and international students.
“She is passionate about the lives of all of our students, especially underrepresented groups,” said Abby Van Vlerah, vice president of student life. “She plans to use her skills in ways that combine music, diversity, leadership and education.”
Pollonais is in her final year of study for a doctoral degree in music, with a concentration in educational psychology, at Ball State University. Her dissertation focuses on the importance of multicultural vocal music to the development of the classical vocal music canon.
For the past three years at Ball State, she was a graduate school ambassador as well as the graduate assistant for the Ph.D. Pathways Program in the Office of Institutional Diversity. The Ph.D. Pathways program is a mentoring program that matches high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds with faculty and professional staff.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, Pollonais earned bachelor’s degrees in sociology and music from State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a master’s in music from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
At Bowling Green, she received the Winifred O. Stone Presidential Scholarship for Diversity, which is an initiative for the "University’s recruitment efforts of the best and brightest graduate students."
In her new role, Pollonais reports to a director in Student Life.
For the media
Maegan Pollonais, MDPollonais@manchester.edu
About Manchester
With campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., Manchester University offers more than 70 areas of academic study to 1,400 students in undergraduate programs,a Master of Accountancy, a Master of Science in pharmacogenomics, a Master of Athletic Training a four-year professional Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a four-year dual degree in pharmacy and pharmacogenomics. Learn more about the private, northern Indiana school at www.manchester.edu.
Our mission
Manchester University respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.
November 2019