Mildred García (‘74) knows firsthand how education can change lives. The daughter of Puerto Rican migrants, García experienced the impact of public education at a young age. As a student at PS8 in Brooklyn, García attended plays and went to museums that her factory worker parents would not have been able to afford. However, it … Continue reading From First-Generation College Student to University Chancellor
Real Estate Revolutionary
Today, the concept of an equity “Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)” is a tried-and-true option for investors seeking a stake in commercial real estate—but back in 1991, it was a radical idea. And it all originated with Milton Cooper (’49, LHD-Hon. ’15). Back in 1958, alongside commercial-construction craftsman Martin Kimmel, he co-founded Kimco Realty, the … Continue reading Real Estate Revolutionary
Small Business, Big Impact
Growing up in Kazakhstan, Aya Kikimova (MBA ‘11) had a special connection to small businesses. While her mother climbed the ladder in real estate, her grandmother ran a bustling small deli. Kikimova never imagined that watching her family build success would lead her to helping small businesses thrive. At age 16, she moved to the … Continue reading Small Business, Big Impact
Driven by a Mission
From developing visual and performance arts centers to founding a comic book publishing company to empowering diverse talent in real estate, Taneshia Nash Laird (’95) has done it all. A breast cancer survivor who grew up in poverty and lost her home in an explosion during her time at Baruch College, she’s always kept moving … Continue reading Driven by a Mission
Grateful to Give Back
Jonathan Prevst (MPA ‘16) feels lucky to be alive. He had no idea that he was born with a rare heart condition—which he later learned is called an “anomalous coronary artery” and an “enlarged aortic root”—and required sudden open-heart surgery in 2020. “On average, when you wake up, you have a 50% chance of sudden … Continue reading Grateful to Give Back
Charting New Courses
As a world-class competitive sailor, Barbara “Basia” Karpinska Hopkins (MBA ’02) is used to adapting to change. The outlook has served her well, both as an athlete and as a business leader. Born and raised in Kraków, Poland, Karpinska Hopkins earned an MS in physical therapy from Kraków’s University School of Physical Education amidst major … Continue reading Charting New Courses
Playing Well With Others
For Kristi Zhang (’14), every day at work involves a healthy dose of fun. Zhang is the global marketing manager of LEGO Friends, a franchise within the multinational toy company the LEGO Group. Based in Billund, Denmark, she collaborates with marketing executives to develop and implement strategies to bring children joy with LEGO sets. The … Continue reading Playing Well With Others
With Ethics in Mind
For Kimberly Bloomston (’05), technology and ethics go hand in hand. The former philosophy major, now chief product officer at the San Francisco-based tech company LiveRamp, keeps ethics at the forefront of her work. Bloomston always had a curiosity for learning. An avid chess player, she has always been fascinated by how people think, and … Continue reading With Ethics in Mind
Olympic Games
It was a memorable summer for Lara Abrash (MBA ’94), chair of Deloitte US (pictured left, with Joe Ucuzoglu, CEO of Deloitte Global). She served as the keynote speaker at Baruch’s 2024 Commencement in May and later attended the Paris Summer Olympics through a partnership between Deloitte and the International Olympic Committee. “Witnessing the best … Continue reading Olympic Games
Embodying the American Dream
This spring Bruce S. Sherman (MBA ’74) (right, in conversation with ABC News’ Byron Pitts) received the prestigious Horatio Alger Award at an event at the National Portrait Gallery. The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a nonprofit educational organization that bestows its award to civic and philanthropic leaders who exemplify perseverance, integrity, … Continue reading Embodying the American Dream