Teona Pagan, a former City University of New York (CUNY) employee, is suing the university for allegedly terminating her employment after she converted to Christianity. Pagan, who worked as the Fellowships and Public Service Program Coordinator, claims her request for a religious accommodation was denied, leading to her dismissal.
Pagan’s job included overseeing the Mixner Fellowship, which focuses on LGBT advocacy. After her conversion in April 2022, she expressed that participating in the program conflicted with her religious beliefs. Pagan requested to be reassigned to other programs, but her supervisor and the university refused, citing an “undue burden.”
In her lawsuit, Pagan says she was interrogated about her beliefs during a meeting with the human resources director and her supervisor. Shortly after her request was denied, Pagan was placed on administrative leave and informed that her contract would not be renewed.
Pagan initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), but the commission declined to pursue the matter further. She has since filed a lawsuit, seeking justice for what she claims was religious discrimination.
Pagan now works for a Christian apparel company and has expressed peace with the situation, saying that her faith has grown stronger as a result. She hopes her legal battle will serve as an inspiration to others who face religious discrimination in the workplace.
