Tonya Adair currently serves as UWSEM’s Chief Development, Diversity & Engagement Officer. She joined the organization in 2018 and provides executive oversight for the organization’s fundraising efforts, diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives and the corporate & community engagement strategies. In this role, Tonya collaborates with all areas of the organization to ensure the cohesiveness and shared decision-making that is needed for each department served.
Prior to joining United Way Prior Tonya spent 26 years as an educator. Her roles ranged from teacher to high school principal to chief innovation officer. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and honors, including most recently, the 2024 Michigan Chronicles Women of Excellence Honoree & Inductee, 2023 Crains Notable Leader in DEI, Corp! Magazine’s 2020 Michigan’s Salute to Diversity Awards Honoree and is a 2018 inductee of the Alverno College Vanguard Society, just to name a few.
Tonya proudly serves as board chair for City Year Detroit and member of the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan. She also serves on the advisory councils for The Greenlight Fund Detroit and Metro Detroit’s Racial Equity Blueprint.
Her academic achievements include a Master of Science in education administration and leadership from Alverno College of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Grambling State University, a HBCU in Louisiana.
Tonya is a leader who is deeply passionate about helping to provide equitable opportunities and resources that help all members of communities to thrive.