Building Systems — and Belief

Posted On

May 20, 2026

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At several moments in her career, Magdala “Maggie” Marseille’ 05 found herself walking into situations most people would avoid: a global nonprofit reeling from the sudden death of its founder, a university operation overwhelmed by disconnected systems, a nonprofit board confronting financial instability, students in crisis during a pandemic.

Maggie is a recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards and will be recognized alongside fellow honorees during Alumni Weekend on Saturday, May 30, at 6 p.m. in the Auditorium.

It is that rare combination of operational precision, empathy, and community leadership that has earned Marseille recognition as a recipient of Emmanuel College’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award — an honor celebrating alumni whose lives and careers reflect Emmanuel’s mission through leadership, service, and impact.

For Marseille, the award carries deeply personal meaning.

“As a first-generation Haitian woman, it stands for my journey and the support and community that helped me along the way,” she said. “It reminds me how far I’ve come and encourages me to keep creating opportunities for others.”

Today, Marseille serves as a Program Manager at Harvard University, overseeing operations across several academic departments, including finance, human resources, and administrative strategy. Her work requires balancing systems management with relationship-building, helping faculty, staff, and leadership navigate increasingly complex institutional environments.

Colleagues credit her with improving workflows and operational systems, work that has contributed to significant gains in efficiency across teams. Marseille, though, describes the work more simply.

“The throughline,” she said, “has always been building systems that help people.”

Learning to Believe in Herself

Marseille’s path to leadership was far from linear. Like many first-generation students, she initially struggled to find her footing in higher education. After stepping away from college for several years, she was working professionally when a manager encouraged her to return and complete her degree.

That path eventually led her to Emmanuel’s accelerated evening and weekend program, designed for working adults returning to school. At first, she wasn’t convinced she could do it.

“I didn’t know if I could handle it,” Marseille recalled. “I didn’t have anyone in my household that went to college.”

An Emmanuel academic advisor suggested something simple: start with one course. Marseille aced it. Then another.

“And I was like, ‘Okay, maybe I can do this thing.’”

She remembers the experience not simply as academic support, but as the moment someone helped her rebuild confidence in herself. Emmanuel’s advising structure — regular meetings, course planning, accountability, and encouragement — became foundational.

“That advisor really saved me from a situation where I didn’t believe in myself,” Marseille said.

The experience continues to shape how she approaches leadership today, particularly her advocacy for first-generation students and young professionals navigating unfamiliar systems.

“I’m always pushing and advocating for first-gen students,” she said. “The struggle is real. Sometimes you just need someone to help you believe that you can actually do this.”

She later earned a master’s degree from Northeastern University, a milestone she once doubted was possible. That perspective has informed nearly every chapter of her career.

Drawn to Complexity

Before returning to Harvard, Marseille held operational and administrative leadership roles at organizations including Partners In Health, Roxbury Community College, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her work has included financial management, grant development, administrative operations, and strategic planning, including efforts that increased grant funding and strengthened institutional processes.

At Partners In Health, Marseille entered the organization just weeks before the death of founder Paul Farmer, a period of enormous operational and emotional upheaval for the global health nonprofit.

Almost immediately, she found herself coordinating logistics tied to memorial planning, office operations, construction projects, and stakeholder communications while the organization simultaneously navigated pandemic-era pressures and global healthcare challenges.

“Every job I’m in, I’m always jumping into a fire,” she said.

But colleagues increasingly trusted her to do exactly that.

Marseille describes herself as someone energized by solving problems others find overwhelming. She speaks enthusiastically about workflow systems, operational efficiencies, communication structures, and institutional strategy — but always returns to the people affected by those systems.

At Harvard, she recalls helping support graduate and international students during the pandemic, when administrators across departments worked together to address housing insecurity, immigration complications, and mounting student anxiety.

“Our students are our stakeholders,” she said. “We have to ask: What are your fears? What are your challenges? What can the institution do to help?”

Leadership Rooted in Community

That same philosophy extends beyond her professional work. Marseille currently serves on the board of Jean Appolon Expressions, a Haitian contemporary dance organization rooted in cultural storytelling, healing, and community engagement. The mission feels deeply personal to her.

“As a Haitian woman who loves music and dance, I connected with the organization immediately,” she said. “It’s not just about performance. It’s about culture, storytelling, and community.”

She is also a life member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and remains active in community initiatives connected to the NAACP, including food distribution efforts, financial literacy programming, voter registration drives, and school supply campaigns for families in need.

Across those roles, Marseille has focused consistently on mentorship, educational access, civic engagement, and creating pathways for others. Despite the scope of her work, Marseille consistently returns to one central belief: people are often capable of far more than they think.

It is the advice she gives young professionals applying for jobs that feel intimidating.

“Go for it,” she said. “You don’t know until you try.”

And it is the message she hopes current Emmanuel students carry with them as they navigate their own uncertain beginnings.

“Your journey might not be a straight line,” she said. “But every experience helps you grow. Trust yourself and remember you have a lot of potential.”