Inclusive Capitalism

HBCU Strategic Initiative and Fellowship Program

Overview

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue to be overlooked as a source for quality talent in the investment industry, despite a decades-long history of producing global leaders in financial services.

To help connect resources to talent and as a continued commitment to expanding opportunity within the business community, the Milken Institute launched the HBCU Fellows Program for sophomore undergraduate students in early 2023. The program offers an eight-course curriculum, in partnership with premier finance education platform ViableEDU, allowing Fellows to build their knowledge of finance while also gaining access to professional development opportunities, including in-person networking events and exclusive conversations with the Milken Institute's network of leaders in the financial industry.

What Our Program Is Designed to Do

RECRUIT and support a pool of academically competitive students from select HBCUs and direct them toward internships and careers at top-tier asset management firms;
PROVIDE tailored training to each cohort of students to develop the knowledge and professional skills needed for careers in asset management; and
CONNECT each cohort of students with the broader network of program alumni, established asset management professionals, and the Institute's experts to build the next generation of competitive and successful industry leaders.

Apply to Join the Next Cohort

Students from HBCUs are invited to apply to be a part of our 2025-2026 Cohort.

Apply Here

By the Numbers

Women- and diverse-owned firms control only 1.4% of the over $82 trillion managed by the US asset management industry.

The percentage of assets under management by women- and diverse-owned firms has only increased by 0.1% in the past 10 years.

HBCUs generate 25% of all bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields for African Americans and award 14% of all African American engineering degrees.

We’ll see clear movement toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in asset management when awareness and active recruitment of diverse, high-performing talent is a seamless piece of talent acquisition for asset management firms. The Milken Institute HBCU Fellows Program puts that talent front and center. The benefit to students will be a higher degree of financial fluency, making them even more competitive candidates.
- Blair Smith
Senior Director, Milken Institute Finance
Beyond a first-class educational opportunity with our curriculum partner, ViableEDU, our students are given access to internship opportunities with elite asset management firms and are integrated into one of the most distinguished financial networks in the world. We are confident their participation in our program will change the trajectory of their careers and boost their lifetime earnings.
- Troy Duffie
Director, Milken Institute Finance