A former City University of New York (CUNY) staff member is suing the university for allegedly firing her after she converted to Christianity. Teona Pagan, who worked as the Fellowships and Public Service Program Coordinator at CUNY’s Research Foundation, claims her employment was wrongfully terminated after she requested a religious accommodation in April 2022.
Pagan’s duties included overseeing the Mixner Fellowship, a program promoting LGBT rights and causes. However, after her conversion to Christianity, Pagan said she could no longer, in good conscience, continue participating in the program due to her religious beliefs. She asked her supervisor for an accommodation that would allow her to focus on other fellowship programs, but her request was denied.
In her lawsuit, Pagan alleges that after her conversion, she faced questioning from her supervisor and the human resources director regarding her beliefs. Despite offering to take on additional responsibilities in other programs, her religious accommodation was refused, with the university citing an “undue burden on the office.”
Pagan was placed on administrative leave in June 2022 and informed that her contract would not be renewed. She initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), but the commission declined to pursue further investigation.
Pagan has since moved on to work for a Christian apparel company. She has expressed faith that her legal battle will inspire others, stating that her situation has brought her closer to God.
