Carlene Hunte-Nelson, SIPASA President, Named 2026 Fellow by Rockefeller Institute

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January 21, 2026 – NEW YORK, NY — Columbia SIPA is proud to announce that Carlene Hunte-Nelson MPA ’27 was awarded a fellowship with the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy (IIIRP) at the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The fellowship recognizes emerging scholars from across New York State to advance applied research and policy solutions that strengthen immigrant communities. 

The four-month fellowship engages graduate students in multidisciplinary research designed to identify inclusive models of immigrant integration and to support evidence-based policies that enhance equitable opportunity and community cohesion. This year’s cohort includes students from SUNY, CUNY, and Columbia, highlighting the cross-institutional nature of the initiative. 

“New York has always been a place where immigrants have found educational and economic opportunity—and SIPA students are uniquely positioned to contribute to this work,” said Keren Yarhi-Milo, dean of Columbia SIPA. “Carlene exemplifies the kind of scholar-practitioner we aim to develop: someone who combines policy analysis with deep community engagement to advance solutions that strengthen our city and state.”

“As the first student from outside SUNY and CUNY to join this fellowship, Carlene will both learn from the Rockefeller Institute’s leading researchers and bring SIPA’s perspective to this important work on policies that help immigrant communities flourish,” she added. 

Hunte-Nelson, who is a Dean’s Distinguished Fellow at SIPA and current SIPASA president, is pursuing a master of public administration in urban and social policy. She brings rich experience in community-focused policy work, having previously served as a policy intern and community liaison with the New York City Mayor’s Office, where she worked at the intersection of policy design and grassroots engagement. 

As a fellow, Hunte-Nelson will contribute to research and initiatives that aim to deepen understanding of integration pathways and identify evidence-based practices for supporting immigrants throughout New York State and beyond. Her participation underscores SIPA’s commitment to preparing future leaders who bridge academic rigor with real-world impact. 

For more information about the 2026 Fellowship on Immigrant Integration and the full cohort of fellows, please visit the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s announcement.