Manchester senior Tiana Maclin wins Emerging Leader Award

Tiana Maclin, a Manchester University senior who is graduating this spring with a degree in management and marketing, is the debut winner of the Emerging Leader Award presented by the Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana.

Maclin has juggled multiple jobs while providing leadership in school clubs and organizations and being an active volunteer in the North Manchester community.

“Manchester University could not have a better ambassador than Tiana Maclin,” said MU assistant director for media relations Anne Gregory, who nominated her for the award. “Tiana is a true servant leader, and I simply cannot wait to see what the next chapter brings.”

Gregory has had a number of opportunities to see how Maclin sizes up a situation, makes a plan and follows through. Two years ago, Maclin coordinated MU’s annual July 4 Celebration and Fireworks Display, a gift from the University to those who live in North Manchester and Wabash County.

Maclin negotiated contracts, ran the budget, worked with speakers and bands, instituted positive changes and handled unforeseen problems – completing each step thoroughly and before deadline. During that internship, she attended a Rotary meeting and learned about the desperate need in North Manchester for science tutoring to aid adults working to earn high school equivalency diplomas.

Because she has a strong background in the sciences, Maclin approached the program director and volunteered, first creating the science curriculum and then acting as a tutor.

“Their dreams can still happen, no matter what time of life they are in,” said Maclin, speaking about an 80-year-old woman she tutors at the center. 

At the University, her many roles include starting an urban gaming club on campus, being a student orientation leader, student ambassador, library access services assistant, an active member in the College of Business Club and an active member and officer in the Black Student Union. She chairs the student group organizing this year’s senior gift to the University.

“No matter how busy she is, Tiana is always looking for ways to help others,” Gregory said. As an example, Maclin noticed many of her peers did not understand the effect their postings on social media could have on their futures. Then a member of the MU Values, Ideas and the Arts Committee, Maclin developed a program called “What is your Brand?” attended by hundreds of students, explaining the importance of your personal brand and offering examples of what not to do.

When asked by YLNI about what leaders do, Maclin said, “They don’t just sit around and wait for it.”

Maclin grew up in Kokomo and moved to North Manchester from Markleville. She will be graduating in May and is looking for a position in her field. She has been a marketing intern at the Honeywell Center, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and at Manchester University. Her honors included being named one of 20 Millennials Making a Difference in Northeast Indiana by KPC Media Inc. in 2015.

Maclin credits Manchester’s close-knit community and the many opportunities it provides to get involved and learn new things.
 “It’s about exploring who you are, your likes and dislikes, and your future,” she said.

The Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana hosts the My City Summit each year and promotes the courageous pursuit of Fort Wayne’s utmost potential. In 2017, it added the Emerging Leader Award that would go to one high school or college student who represents his or her school proudly through service, leadership, community engagement, strong academics and vision for creating positive change.

Maclin’s advice to new college students about how to approach campus life is a perfect fit for this award: “Don’t be afraid. Get involved, jump in, dip your toe in … It’s better to try something and don’t like it than not try it at all because you think it won’t work out.”

About Manchester University
Manchester University, with campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers more than 60 areas of academic study to 1,600 students in undergraduate programs, a Master of Athletic Training, a Master of Pharmacogenomics and a four-year professional Doctor of Pharmacy.  Learn more about the private, northern Indiana school at www.manchester.edu.

February 2017