Baruch Alumna Sevara Ibragimova Honored for Excellence in Leadership

Baruch Alumna Sevara Ibragimova Honored for Excellence in Leadership

November 4, 2026

For Baruch College alumna Sevara Ibragimova (MSEd-HEA '25), leadership begins with a simple idea: making it easier for another person.

"Leadership, to me, is not about standing ahead of others," Ibragimova says. "It is about turning around, extending your hand, and making sure someone else has a better path forward because you were there."

Ibragimova's philosophy helped her stand out among five nominees and become the 2026 recipient of the LCU Fund President's Award for Excellence in Leadership. The mission of the LCU Fund for Women's Education is to clear the path for low-income women to complete college by helping them pay their rent.

Turning Experience Into Meaningful Change

When Ibragimova arrived in the United States as a first-generation immigrant with her young child, she faced the challenge of navigating unfamiliar educational, professional, and cultural systems while building a new life. Rather than viewing this simply as obstacles to overcome, she saw them as the foundation of her leadership.

At Baruch, Ibragimova completed her Master of Science in Higher Education Administration at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs with a 3.9 GPA. Her leadership was on display by teaching a First-Year Seminar course while balancing graduate school, an internship, and motherhood. She also shared her knowledge with fellow classmates through the Higher Education Administration Club, particularly supporting immigrants and international students navigating their own journeys.

Ibragimova's vision for a future in which education and opportunity should be more accessible informs her work across The City University of New York (CUNY) system, including internships and part-time positions at Baruch College, Brooklyn College, and Hostos Community College's career services offices. Currently a Career and Experiential Learning Advisor at LaGuardia Community College, she helps students-particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds-navigate professional pathways.

Her work includes career advising, internship support, professional development workshops, and program evaluation. Through these experiences, she has seen how students with talent and ambition can face barriers when they lack professional networks, guidance, or knowledge to get there.

"Talent exists in every community, but opportunity is not always equally accessible," she said. "My role is to help bridge that gap."

Ibragimova is also pursuing a Professional Certificate in Data Analytics and Data Science, developing skills in SQL, Python, and Tableau to complement her understanding of students' experiences with evidence that can help identify and address educational inequalities.

Ibragimova's leadership qualities and commitment to Baruch earned her multiple honors: winning the Community Engagement and Service Award at the Winter Graduation Ceremony organized by the College's Graduate Student Assembly, and a nomination for the Rising Star Award at the Second Annual Bernard Awards.

"Sevara exemplifies what we are most proud of in our student body: a commitment to community, excellence in scholarship, and leadership defined by reaching back to lift others forward," said Marxe School Dean Sherry Ryan.

'North Star' for Others

Ibragimova's dedication to service extends beyond her professional roles.

She founded the New American Career Hub, a free initiative that has helped more than 20 immigrants from Central Asia and beyond navigate the U.S. job market. Ibragimova also envisions establishing an Uzbek Professionals Network to connect mentors, build community, and expand opportunities for future generations.

Her next goal is a PhD studying how institutions shape policies that foster equity and inclusion.

"I hope to be a 'North Star' for those navigating higher education without a roadmap, including first-generation students, immigrants, and others who often journey through unfamiliar systems alone," she explains.

"If my research can illuminate a path where uncertainty once existed, and if my leadership can help even one person believe they belong in spaces they once thought were out of reach, then my work will have fulfilled its greatest purpose."