The California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) announced on February 9 a $3 million philanthropic commitment to establish two endowed scholarship funds supporting graduate students with leadership potential and financial need. The commitment will be distributed as an immediate $2 million gift, and an added $1 million gift scheduled for 2027.
The endowed scholarships will support students who demonstrate ethical leadership, professional promise, and a commitment to societal contribution, while expanding access to CIAM’s graduate programs. The funds honor two individuals whose leadership helped shape CIAM’s mission and identity—William A. Cohen, CIAM’s founding president, and C. William Pollard, a founding member of the Board of Trustees.
“As CIAM marks its 15th anniversary, this gift strengthens our ability to educate leaders who are grounded in practice, guided by purpose, and committed to the public good,” said Jack Paduntin, President of CIAM. “These endowed scholarships honor the vision of our founders while expanding educational opportunity for future leaders.”
CIAM’s academic philosophy is rooted in Management as a Liberal Art, integrating ethical judgment, real-world application, and social responsibility. The scholarships reinforce the institution’s long-standing emphasis on human-centered, practice-based leadership education.
“This commitment expands access to applied graduate education and strengthens the pipeline of responsible leaders across industries,” said Kien Tiet, Vice President of Operations and Finance.
As CIAM celebrates 15 years of advancing leadership education, this milestone gift reflects continued confidence in the institution’s mission to develop leaders who are not only effective in organizations but committed to advancing society and humanity. Scholarship awards will support multiple students annually through long-term endowment stewardship.
Founded in 2011, the California Institute of Advanced Management is a nonprofit, WSCUC accredited graduate institution dedicated to teaching the practice of management as both a science and an art. Guided by the principles of Peter F. Drucker, CIAM’s experiential learning model equips students to become effective, ethical, and socially conscious leaders in a rapidly changing global economy. Learn more at www.ciam.edu.
