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November 2, 2026
Meet Our New HBCU Fellows
The Columbia HBCU Fellowship Program prepares graduates of historically Black colleges and universities to advance in their careers across a wide range of fields. Through personalized mentorship, professional development and opportunities to build meaningful networks, the program has helped more than 100 fellows grow into leaders in their professions and their communities.
This year's cohort of 17 fellows is enrolled in 11 degree programs at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS), including the inaugural M.S. in Project Management cohort. Among the fellows are a young entrepreneur working to bridge venture capital and climate solutions, a cofounder of Black Girls Vote at Spelman College and scholars preparing to lead in fields ranging from data analytics and technology to enterprise risk, nonprofit work, sustainability, political analytics and narrative medicine. Together, they bring the values of community, excellence and service that shaped them at their HBCUs to Columbia and New York City.
Read on to hear directly from the fellows about what they are most excited about, the connections they hope to build and what it means to join the Columbia community.
M.S. in Applied Analytics
Joining Columbia University as an HBCU Fellow is an incredible honor and an opportunity to bridge rigorous analytical inquiry with meaningful social impact. I'm excited to collaborate with a driven cohort, faculty and staff to solve complex, real-world problems using data. Being in New York City provides the ideal environment to challenge myself, innovate and represent the community that paved the way for me.
M.S. in Nonprofit Management
I am truly excited to connect with the communities around Columbia University. Studying nonprofit management in New York City gives me the chance to learn by doing and to serve others in ways I have never imagined. Being part of the HBCU Fellowship is a blessing, and I am eager to see who I become and what I accomplish during this journey.
M.S. in Strategic Communication
Joining the Columbia community, I feel supported in my ambitions and empowered to contribute to a community rooted in curiosity and impact. As an HBCU Fellow, I look forward to extending the lineage of culturally grounded leadership that my HBCU has instilled in me while using the tools and opportunities provided by Columbia to drive progress within my field.
M.S. in Sustainability Management
I am extremely excited to be at Columbia University, but I am even more excited to be in New York City! As a young entrepreneur looking to bridge venture capital and climate solutions, I cannot think of any other place I'd rather be. The city's investment ecosystem is unmatched, Columbia's resources are limitless, and my ambition to innovate is unquenchable.
M.S. in Nonprofit Management
I am looking forward to expanding my opportunities while I am in New York and being able to gain valuable professional and legal opportunities during my time here. I am also excited to experience everything New York has to offer, from exploring the city's incredible restaurants and trying new foods to stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying new hobbies. Most importantly, I am looking forward to growing personally and professionally, meeting new people and making the most of this opportunity as I become part of the Columbia community.
M.S. in Political Analytics
I am passionate about civic engagement, social justice and public service. As a student at Spelman, I served in several leadership roles, including copresident and cofounder of Black Girls Vote at Spelman College. At Columbia, I hope to continue building on my HBCU experience while connecting with and contributing to communities committed to leadership, service and social impact.
M.S. in Project Management
There's something special about starting a new chapter alongside people who will become a meaningful part of your personal and professional life. I'm excited to join Columbia's first-ever Project Management master's cohort and further develop my untapped potential. I look forward to upholding the HBCU Fellowship's mission to lead, impact, innovate and advance with purpose.
M.S. in Sustainability Management
Being selected for Columbia's HBCU Fellowship to study Sustainability Management feels like an answered prayer. Learning from scholar-practitioner professors, customizing my academic experience and accessing countless opportunities, all in the greatest city in the world, is invaluable. My HBCU, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, built my foundation and was my launchpad, and I am ready to soar at Columbia University.
M.S. in Technology Management
Ecstatic doesn't begin to describe how I feel about embarking on this journey with the Technology Management program and HBCU Fellowship. From the wealth of industry resources available to us to the great minds from diverse backgrounds we interact with every day, there is so much to learn and experience. I'm excited to see how these opportunities broaden my perspective and shape me into a more well-rounded contributor in the tech arena.
M.S. in Sustainability Science
I'm excited to join the Columbia community as an HBCU Fellow and continue building my career at the intersection of sustainability, environmental justice, advocacy and public health. I'm especially looking forward to learning from and engaging with communities across New York City. My goal is to develop sustainable and equitable solutions that support BIPOC communities in New York City and beyond.
M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management
I feel incredibly blessed to be part of a renowned institution that challenges its students to become pioneers and visionary leaders, and I look forward to contributing to Columbia's ecosystem while pouring back into the local New York City communities around me. I know I will leave Columbia a better woman than when I arrived, with everlasting connections, an incredible foundation for my career and memories that will shape me for years to come.
M.S. in Technology Management
I was drawn to the Columbia HBCU Fellowship because of the university's prestigious academics and the immense resources it offers. I'm excited to network and learn from the global perspectives and mindsets within my classes and campus community. I will leave my mark at Columbia by bringing my own voice and experiences into these spaces while growing into someone who can give back to the community that shaped me.
M.S. in Strategic Communication
I am looking forward to the many experiences that will accompany me during my time at Columbia and to growing closer to who I intend to become. I'm excited to build my community in New York City, not only in the worlds of art, fashion and production, but also with those with whom I share Strategic Communication courses. I look forward to applying my acquired knowledge to expand my expertise in visual communication, to learning from a variety of perspectives, to taking full advantage of the opportunity that is being an HBCU Fellow and to being intellectually challenged by Columbia's rigor.
M.S. in Narrative Medicine
From Albany, Georgia, to Columbia University, my journey reflects the power of perseverance and believing that no opportunity is beyond reach. I proudly carry the conviction instilled in me by my family, my community and the ‘unsinkable and indestructible’ Albany State University. I am most looking forward to continuing my growth within the culture of excellence fostered by this prestigious institution.
M.S. in Political Analytics
I am honored to be an HBCU Fellow because being a fellow provides us with a unique experience here at SPS. I am not only excited to expand my knowledge of political analytics, specifically as it relates to voting behavior, but also to take full advantage of being part of a cohort of other intellectually curious HBCU scholars. We all have different passions and driving forces, so it will be great to learn more from my peers inside and outside the classroom.
M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management
After growing through my HBCU experience, I am excited to bring the values of community, excellence and connection that shaped me into a new environment, surrounded by driven, diverse and inspiring people from different backgrounds and places. I'm looking forward to learning from their experiences, sharing knowledge across our different programs and growing both personally and professionally. Most importantly, I'm ready to step outside of my comfort zone, take risks, build meaningful connections and make the most of every opportunity Columbia and New York have to offer.
M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS)
I'm looking forward to connecting across various professional backgrounds within the Information & Knowledge Strategy Program and expanding my knowledge in UI/UX design and entrepreneurship. I feel supported and empowered to join the Columbia community and have the opportunity to represent my HBCU in the Columbia HBCU Fellowship. I can't wait to immerse myself in niche areas of culture, art, design and business around NYC and cultivate a diverse network of community in NYC.
About the Columbia HBCU Fellowship
The mission of the Columbia HBCU Fellowship Program is to prepare talented, high-performing HBCU graduates to lead, innovate, drive community impact and advance their professional industries through program engagement, mentorship and career development opportunities.
Consider making a gift to the Columbia HBCU Fellowship Fund to help provide full-ride fellowships for exceptional HBCU graduates to pursue a Columbia master’s degree in New York City.
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