Baruch Alum and Graduating Student Receive Columbia SPS-CUNY Fellowships

Baruch Alum and Graduating Student Receive Columbia SPS-CUNY Fellowships

May 12, 2026

Two members of the Baruch College community-alumna Kia Glean (BBA '25) and senior Mariam Moazzam ('26)-have been named 2026 Columbia School of Professional Studies (SPS) CUNY Fellows, a highly competitive honor that supports the pursuit of a master's degree at Columbia University.

Launched in 2024, the fellowship program was started with the goal of providing high-achieving recent City University of New York (CUNY) bachelor's or master's degree recipients access to Columbia's academic, professional, and community resources. The fellowship provides a full-tuition scholarship for six semesters in any one of the School's graduate programs, which helps remove a financial barrier to earning a master's degree.

Turning Complexity into Impact

Kia Glean, who majored in Operations Management & Consulting, will pursue a Master of Science in Project Management.

"I honestly couldn't believe my acceptance was real at first," Glean recalls. "Being named a Columbia SPS-CUNY Fellow is incredibly meaningful because it reflects both my hard work and the community that supported my journey. It also represents an opportunity to continue growing academically and professionally."

Glean is interested in project management for its focus on solving complex problems and turning ideas into measurable results. With demand for project management professionals expected to grow significantly in the coming years, according to the Project Management Institute, she is eager to help meet that need.

"I have always been drawn to bringing clarity to complexity, and helping turn ideas into meaningful outcomes," she says. "This opportunity allows me to focus on developing the strategic, technical, and leadership skills needed to build projects that create real, tangible impact."

Advancing Climate Innovation Through Technology

Mariam Moazzam, a finance major with a minor in environmental sustainability, will pursue a Master of Science in Technology Management-becoming the first in her family to attend an Ivy League institution.

"When I got the call from Columbia, I was shouting before the dean could even finish the first sentence," Moazzam says. "My mom was nearby and got worried. I immediately started tearing up and am beyond excited for this Fellowship."

Moazzam's academic and professional experiences have already taken her across the globe. As a Jeannette K. Watson Fellow, she studied and worked in Switzerland and Malaysia, including roles with a women's rights nonprofit organization and at the United Nations. There, she researched the disproportionate environmental and socioeconomic impacts affecting women worldwide-an experience that continues to shape her perspective.

"I want to explore how technology can be applied to climate innovation," she explains. "I am especially interested in digital transformation, emerging technologies, and how we can build and deploy AI more sustainably."

Fellowship and Scholarship Assistance

Baruch College's Office of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising helps guide students through the steps of applying for any scholarship and award that supports their academic studies.

The dedicated staff assists students in discovering and exploring numerous opportunities including Fulbright awards, Gilman International Scholarships, Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship, Freeman-ASIA scholarship, Schwarzman Scholarships, and more.