Dean Brent Donnellan, Tyler Pohl, Associate Dean Emily Durbin. Pohl received the Outstanding Leadership Award and was a student in the Department of Political Science. (Credit: Michigan State University). Jackie Belden Hawthorne
Upper Dublin High School alumni Tyler Pohl, Class of 2022, has been awarded the 2025 Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC) Outstanding Student Leadership Award at Michigan State University.
Now a junior studying Political Science and Economics, Pohl serves as the vice president of external affairs for the university’s Jewish Student Union (JSU). In this role, he has focused on strengthening relationships between Jewish and Arab student communities—work that has become increasingly meaningful amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“With the current events in the Middle East and the ongoing war, this endeavor has been extremely important to my personal agenda for a more inclusive Spartan community,” Pohl shared in his award submission essay.
Originally from Dresher, Pohl credits his time at Upper Dublin High School with laying the foundation for his passion in civic leadership and international relations. He is interested in foreign affairs and global markets, and after graduation, he hopes to work in a congressional office—either in Pennsylvania or Michigan. His long-term ambition is to serve in Congress himself.
Pohl has organized joint programs between the JSU and the Muslim Students Association and has arranged informal meetings between the executive boards of the JSU and the Arab Cultural Society. These gatherings have created spaces for meaningful dialogue and cultural exchange at a time when such conversations are vitally important.
One of his most impactful initiatives came last year during his tenure as Interim Chair for the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students, when he organized a shared Iftar-Shabbat dinner. The interfaith meal, held during both Ramadan and Passover, offered students of different faith backgrounds a chance to connect and share traditions.
“During the meal, we held meaningful conversations and helped to normalize communication between our different student groups with differing world views,” Pohl wrote. “I have learned through my work that collaboration is the key.”
Beyond bridge-building, Pohl has worked closely with the Associated Students of MSU (ASMSU) to address anti-Semitism on campus. His advocacy efforts have contributed to a more inclusive and supportive environment for Jewish students at MSU.
Pohl was one of only three students honored with a DSAC Outstanding Student Award this year. The other recipients were Noah Forman, an Economics major who received the Humanitarian Award, and Melissa Teja, an Anthropology major who earned the Undergraduate Research Award. All three were recognized at a special luncheon hosted by Dr. Emily Durbin and Dean Brent Donnellan, alongside the College of Social Science’s Outstanding Seniors.
