Every person matters: How equal opportunity shapes our university community

Megan Novell brings a passionate optimism to her role as Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity at University of Detroit Mercy. Despite the complex challenges facing DEI work today, she remains steadfastly committed to creating spaces where everyone can thrive regardless of gender, race, disability, or any other aspect of identity.During our wide-ranging conversation over cups of tea, Megan unpacks the intricate work of ensuring compliance with civil rights laws across our multi-campus university. Beyond simply responding to discrimination complaints, her work focuses on proactively building an environment where no one's education is limited "because of who they are."What's particularly striking is Megan's natural disposition toward questioning arbitrary rules. From becoming a vegetarian at age seven to challenging her Catholic school uniform policies as a teenager ("Show me in the policy where it says I can't do this"), she's been fighting for fairness her entire life. This personality trait perfectly positioned her for a career ensuring equal access to education – something she considers "the worthiest goal" possible.Beyond her administrative duties, Megan finds joy teaching in the Women and Gender Studies program, where she witnesses students making powerful connections between academic concepts and their lived experiences. Want to support equality in your own life? Start by recognizing that human diversity isn't going anywhere, regardless of political climate. As Megan reminds us, "No one can take your principles away from you." In challenging times, remember that the work of creating equal access benefits everyone – and that, historically speaking, "the right prevails."