Baruch Graduate Student Selected for Public Service Fellowship

Baruch Graduate Student Selected for Public Service Fellowship

October 20, 2026

Aida Saeed (MIA '27) is one of 12 graduate students from New York City selected for the 2026-27 John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service, a competitive program offering direct experience in emergency management administered by the New York City Emergency Management Department. Saeed was assigned to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Community Engagement and Response (CER) Unit.

Fellows work up to 20 hours a week at a New York City agency or nonprofit organization and receive a $10,000 stipend upon completing the program. Saeed applied after taking a course in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

During the nine-month fellowship that began in September, Saeed will work with CER staff to support community resilience and strengthen New York City's response to public health emergencies. Her responsibilities will include researching peer-reviewed literature and emerging trends in preparedness, planning, and policy, as well as helping develop emergency preparedness tools and templates for community-based organizations.

"I want to build on what I learned in the classroom through hands-on public service experience and see how government agencies collaborate with community organizations and other partners to protect vulnerable communities," said Saeed, whose focus in the MIA program is international nongovernmental organizations.

Connecting Human Rights and Emergency Preparedness

With a background in law and human rights advocacy, Saeed brings a deep commitment to helping communities facing social and economic challenges.

In Yemen, she worked as an attorney and activist supporting the rights of underserved populations. Since moving to New York, she has continued that work through public service roles which promote equity and access. Her work with the New York City Commission on Human Rights focuses on outreach for justice-impacted individuals, while her volunteer efforts with the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled helps low-income residents during tax season.

Saeed views emergency management as an important extension of her human rights work.

"Through this fellowship, I hope to deepen my understanding of how emergency preparedness and public health planning can improve outcomes during times of crisis."

About the Solomon Fellowship

The fellowship honors John D. Solomon, an accomplished journalist who covered homeland security and public policy, and was a dedicated public servant.

Since its inaugural class in 2012, more than 130 fellows and alumni have contributed over 56,000 hours of service to New York City agencies and nonprofit organizations. More than half of the program's alumni have pursued careers in local or state government, while others work in nonprofit and private-sector organizations in the United States and abroad.

Study International Affairs in a Global City

The Master of International Affairs (MIA) degree at Baruch College's Marxe School offers students access to a global hub of government, business, nonprofit, and international organizations.

The program allows students to choose from the following concentrations: global security, international NGOs, trade policy, Western Hemisphere, or design their own. MIA graduates hold a variety of positions at leading organizations across all sectors including C40 Cities, International Rescue Committee, FEMA, Human Rights Foundation, and Center for a New American Security.

Discover more details about the program's curriculum, admission events, and how to apply.