New Director Joins Posse New York

Posse is excited to welcome Dr. Michell Tollinchi as the new director of Posse New York, bringing with her over 20 years of DEI experience in education.

“As a first-generation Bronx native, I was fortunate to find my own ‘Posses’ along the way to help me succeed in my educational life,” Michell says. “Though I am not a Posse Scholar, I know the value of a community and how it can impact one’s life.”

Michell’s interest in higher education and education access work began in the early 2000’s at Fordham University, where she was the associate director of the Collegiate/Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP)—a program designed to increase the pipeline of students of color in STEM. Michell went on to lead opportunity and access programs at Barnard College for 10 years, launching the school’s First-Generation Initiatives Program.

Michell looks forward to building strong relationships with Posse New York’s partner institutions.

Michell‘s subsequent work has spanned Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), John Jay College, and various nonprofits as a DEI consultant.

Michell looks forward to building strong relationships with Posse New York’s partner institutions, aiming to collaborate with university administrators to ensure Posse Scholars’ success.

“I am very committed to student retention and hope to enhance support so that Scholars continue to excel and reap the many benefits of their college experience,” Michell says. “I want to further expand Posse’s reach to communities that continue to be underrepresented in our partner schools.”

Michell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Spanish from the SUNY Albany and a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She later obtained a Ph.D. in Social Services from Fordham University.