Changemakers Awards Honor Alumni Driving Innovation and Impact

October 7, 2025

Five people dressed in business and semi-formal attire pose together in front of a blue backdrop featuring Baruch College and CUNY logos.

President S. David Wu (middle) honored Baruch alumni who have made a positive impact through leadership, innovation, and excellence.

Baruch College celebrated the power of its alumni community at the fourth annual Changemakers Awards on September 25.

The event honored graduates who have made transformative contributions in their fields and communities through leadership, innovation, and excellence. President S. David Wu welcomed an audience of approximately 80 guests before heartfelt remarks from each honoree inspired the crowd.

Alumni Changemakers are graduates who spark progress — by advancing innovation within their organizations, driving social impact through public service or entrepreneurship, or shifting perspectives and policies in their industries or network.

Meet the 2025 Awardees

Louise Dente (’88) – Founder & Director, Cultural Caravan Productions Inc.
Ben Guttmann (’11) – Executive Director, Queens Economic Development Corporation
Jacqueline Hernández (MBA ’98) – Founder & CEO, New Majority Ready LLC
Ivy Teng Lei (’14) – Chief Digital Strategy Officer, State of California
Mary Olushoga (MSEd ’10) – Founder & President, African Women Power Network
Dorella Walters (EMPA ’08) – Chief Program Development Officer, God’s Love We Deliver

Learn more: Read each honoree’s profile and discover how they have significantly impacted their industries, associations, and communities.

Lifelong Community, Global Reach

With more than 180,000 alumni worldwide, Baruch’s community is a lifelong source of connection, opportunity, and pride.

The Office of Alumni Relations and Volunteer Engagement offers year-round networking events, career services and educational opportunities beyond graduation. Alumni volunteers and brand ambassadors strengthen networks within corporations, across New York City, throughout the U.S., and around the world. The office also serves as the College’s hub for volunteering on campus and houses two mentoring programs.

Every Baruch graduate is part of this vibrant network—no fees or sign-ups required.

Recently, The Princeton Review singled out Baruch for having one of the “Top 20 Best Alumni Networks” in the U.S., among public colleges.

Connect with the Baruch alumni network: LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

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