NEW YORK, December 3, 2018—Four New York University students have been selected as 2020 Schwarzman Scholars, an honor that will support master’s degree study at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Zetong Jia, a senior in the College of Arts and Science, and Che Huang, a senior in the School of Professional Studies, as well as Atoka Jo and Alexander MacKay, seniors at NYU Abu Dhabi, were among the 147 chosen.
The 2020 Schwarzman Scholars, founded by Stephen A. Schwarzman, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Blackstone, and chairman of Schwarzman Scholars, include students from 38 countries and 119 universities, with 40 percent from the United States, 20 percent from China, and 40 percent from the rest of the world.
“Our newest class includes a diverse group of future leaders from around the world,” said Schwarzman. “They join a global network of scholars who have committed themselves to being a force for change, regardless of where their professional or personal passions take them. My hope is that a year in Beijing will inspire and challenge these students in ways they haven’t even imagined. I look forward to seeing how this new class will leave its mark.”
- Zetong Jia, who will graduate with honors in 2019 from NYU’s College of Arts and Science with a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and sociology, has worked in Liberia to empower Liberian youth and children through community development projects and entrepreneurship training following the country’s age-long civil conflict. He also worked with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to evaluate member states’ progress towards the Sendai Framework and to develop national disaster risk reduction strategies.
- Che Huang, who will graduate in 2019 from NYU’s School of Professional Studies with a major in hotel and tourism management and minor in web programming and application, is the current president of NYU Chinese Students and Scholars Association, a resident assistant, and a student ambassador of Tisch Center of Hospitality.
- Atoka Jo, who will graduate in 2019 from NYU Abu Dhabi with a major in social research and public policy and a minor in theater and interactive media, is the co-director of Girls’ Education Network, an organization that conducts leadership development workshops for young girls in the UAE. She previously interned at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, attended the One Young World conference as a Japanese delegate, and is currently the inaugural fellow of the Masayoshi Son Foundation.
- Alexander MacKay, who will graduate from NYU Abu Dhabi in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in the environment, has conducted research at the fastest receding glacier in the world and developed scientific aerial surveying equipment with Lockheed Martin. He has also tackled water access issues in India’s largest informal settlement to improve public toilet sanitation.
Scholars pursue degrees in public policy, economics and business, and international studies, and spend a year immersed in an international community of thinkers, innovators and senior leaders in business, politics, and society.
“The accomplishments, dynamism, and commitment of this year’s class of scholars are inspiring for all of us involved with the program,” says Global Director of Admissions Robert Garris. “We look forward to seeing them come together from around the world to share their experiences in business, entrepreneurship, public policy, community service, media, and many other fields, learning from each other and from their fellow students at Tsinghua.”
“We are thrilled to have another cohort of outstanding young people from around the world,” adds Xue Lan, dean of Schwarzman Scholars. “We look forward to bringing these exceptional minds to Tsinghua and Schwarzman College to explore, debate, and discover the future direction of our global community.”
For a full list of Schwarzman Scholars, please click here; to watch a short video highlighting the experience of Schwarzman Scholars, please click here.
About Schwarzman Scholars:
Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship and is designed to prepare future global leaders to meet the geopolitical challenges of the 21st century. The vision of Schwarzman Scholars is to bring together the world’s best young minds to explore and understand the economic, political and cultural factors that have contributed to China’s increasing importance as a global power, and to make them more effective as links between China and the rest of the world. Blackstone Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman, has personally contributed over $100 million to the program and is leading a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $500 million from others to endow the program in perpetuity. Schwarzman Scholars has already raised $578 million towards this $600 million goal. The endowment will support up to 200 Scholars annually from the U.S., China and around the world in earning a one-year Master’s degree in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and the potential to bridge and understand cultural and political differences. They live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China.