News & Stories

SIPA Alumni Association Welcomes New Chair

Posted Aug 03 2017

The SIPA Alumni Association welcomes Kirsten Imohiosen MPA ’03 as its new chair, a role in which she will lead the organization’s efforts to deliver programs and opportunities that enrich the SIPA alumni community and School as a whole.

Imohiosen joined the alumni association at its inception in 2006, serving on its executive committee. In conjunction with then chair Roger Baumann IF ’84, MIA ’85 and Allison Cooke Kellogg IF ’72, MIA ’73, she led efforts in 2014 to institute new bylaws and expand the association’s committees. 

A vice president at Goldman Sachs, Imohiosen has also been a leader in other alumni programs at Columbia University. She serves on the board of the Columbia Alumni Association, chairing its programs committee, and co-founded the EMPA Forum, an alumni organization focused on social and policy-oriented events for students and alumni of SIPA’s Executive MPA program.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my graduate school experience at Columbia,” Imohiosen said. “I wanted to give back to the school in some way and continue my own educational journey by staying connected to the school. The SIPA alumni network has grown stronger than ever under the leadership of Roger Baumann and I’m thrilled to be taking the alumni association forward following the incredible SIPA 70th celebration.”

Baumann, who stepped down as chair in June 2017, was chair of SIPA’s 60th anniversary celebration and a leading force in the establishment of the alumni association (originally called the SIPA Alumni Council) soon thereafter. The group has grown under his leadership, launching successful initiatives like the annual Alumni Day and programs that engage hundreds of SIPA alumni as volunteer mentors and admissions ambassadors. Most recently, Baumann led the 70th anniversary Alumni Ambassadors initiative, which brought more than 400 alumni to SIPA’s 70th anniversary celebration weekend in April. He will continue to serve as a member of the SIPA Advisory Board.

“The SIPA community is extremely fortunate to have Kirsten as the new chair of the Alumni Association, Baumann said. “Kirsten's energy, enthusiasm, and longstanding service to both SIPA and Columbia make her uniquely qualified to lead the organization in the coming years.”