A former City University of New York (CUNY) employee is suing the university, claiming he was wrongfully fired after converting to Christianity, according to a religious discrimination lawsuit filed last week.

Teona Pagan, who worked as a fellowship and public service program coordinator at the CUNY Research Foundation, claims she was denied religious accommodations for part of her job recruiting students for a fellowship focused on promoting LGBT “rights and causes.” According to in response to a complaint filed on Aug. 28. Pagan converted to Christianity in April 2022, a few months after starting work in November 2021, but suddenly found that the duties associated with the fellowship were in conflict with her sincerely held religious beliefs.

“After I was hired, I was told the committee was particularly attracted to me because of my maturity at a young age and my willingness to take a bold stand on the issues that plague our generation,” Pagan told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Ironically, just when I finally decided to stand up for the truth, which is Jesus Christ, the committee chose to terminate my employment.”

Pagan took the position immediately after graduating from the honors program at CUNY's Baruch College. CollegeAccording to the lawsuit.

Pagan told the DCNF that she oversaw nine other fellowship programs and that less than 10 percent of her work was devoted to the LGBT-centered program, known as the Mixner Fellowship. She thought religious accommodations were “easily resolved and compromised” because she worked with her supervisor on other projects and there was a “smooth transition of roles.” (Related article: New York University Police say they are ill-prepared for anti-Israel protests)

The David Mixner Fellowship will award students a $5,000 grant to participate in an eight-week internship related to “LGBTQI+ activism, rights, and advocacy.” According to Go to the university website.

Pagan first brought the issue to his superiors' attention in April 2022, requesting in writing that he “increase his involvement in other programs to make up for his absence at Mixner.”

“I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and there are certain beliefs and behaviors that come with that,” she wrote on April 27. requestHe explained that continuing to participate in the Mixner program would be “a crime.”

Pagan claims in her lawsuit that she was “interrogated” about her beliefs during a meeting with her supervisor and the head of human resources in June 2022. Her request was ultimately granted. Denied On June 9, the dean issued a disciplinary reprimand for “imposing undue burden on the duties of his duties.”

She was subsequently placed on administrative leave on June 17 and told her contract would not be renewed on June 22, according to the lawsuit.

Pagan initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), but the commission decided in May 2024 not to further investigate. According to Notice of Right to Sue.

Pagan told DCNF she was willing to risk losing her job because she could no longer give scholarships to students to “invest in sin.” She currently works for a Christian clothing company. company.

“I never expected my life to change so dramatically in such a short amount of time,” she said, “but I give God the glory for this whole journey and situation because it's all for the kingdom of God and someone might ask, 'What do I have to do to be saved?' I also pray for God's prosperity and peace for whoever I'm suing.”

CUNY declined to comment due to the pending litigation.

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