Three Cornellians were named Schwarzman Scholars, recipients of a fully-funded, one-year master’s degree in global affairs program at Schwarzman College in Beijing, on Jan. 15, according to the scholarship program’s website.
The scholarship, founded in 2013 by Blackstone Inc. Chief Executive Officer Stephen Schwarzman, partners with Tsinghua University to provide selected students with the opportunity to study in its residential college, Schwarzman College. Scholars learn about Chinese culture and commerce, network with fellow scholars and receive personalized mentorship from global leaders throughout their time in Beijing.
This year, the program received 5,800 applicants worldwide — a record number for the scholarship program, according to its website — with only 2.5% of applicants receiving the scholarship.
Qiqi “Kiara” Shan ’26: Tackling China’s Mental Health Care System
Qiqi “Kiara” Shan ’26, could not wait to open her Schwarzman scholarship acceptance after applying.
“I was checking [my] email every single day multiple times, and I remember when I saw an email from Schwarzman,” Shan said. “I closed my eyes and clicked [it] open … it was such a validating experience for me, and I immediately called my parents to celebrate.”
Shan studies psychology and economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Drawing on her on-campus psychology research and internships at mental health hospitals in her hometown of Hangzhou, China, Shan hopes to utilize this opportunity to improve mental health accessibility in China.
Shan is interested in studying global affairs as a means to better understand the societal and political factors affecting the Chinese mental health system.
“I think a lot of current challenges in the mental health industry in China are really embedded in a societal situation, and also, political issues,” Shan said. “That's how I will connect my majors to better understand Chinese culture.”
Now, as a Schwarzman Scholar, Shan is looking forward to having the opportunity to “connect with industry mentors from mostly China, but also around the world.”
Shan is most excited for the opportunity to travel with her cohort and experience the different regions and cultures of China, her home country.
“[This scholarship] is a really good opportunity to take a deep dive into Chinese culture [and] Chinese society,” Shan said.
Ruihao “Ray” Lin J.D. ’24: Fusing Passions in International Law and Community
Ruihao “Ray” Lin J.D. ’24, looks forward to being “immersed in the academic environment” at Tsinghua University “with scholars from such diverse backgrounds,” he wrote in an email statement to The Sun.
For Lin, the decision to apply for the Schwarzman Scholars program was straightforward given his interests in pursuing law and studying foreign legal systems. Lin wrote that he followed the program for several years and noted how the program supports his interests.
“I knew the program’s focus on global affairs aligned perfectly with my career path in international law and cross-border legal matters,” Lin wrote.
While at Cornell, Lin was involved with the Law School’s Afghanistan Assistance Clinic, an in-house clinic in which students provide pro bono, or free, legal assistance to Afghan immigrants. Lin described this experience as a “defining part” of his time at Cornell and an experience he hopes to carry with him as a Schwarzman Scholar next year.
Isaac McCurdy ’21: ‘A Future Career in Diplomacy’
Isaac McCurdy ’21 studied China and Asia-Pacific studies in CAS and became a U.S. Army infantry officer in 2021.
“During [McCurdy’s] service, he has led mechanized, motorized, and dismounted infantry formations conducting missions as part of large-scale combat operations at the Army’s National Training Center in the Mojave Desert,” according to the Schwarzman Scholars website.
While at Cornell, McCurdy played rugby, performed stand-up comedy in Mandarin, and served in Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He also worked as a resident advisor for the Holland International Living Center and a library assistant.
McCurdy’s aim with the fellowship is to “develop solutions for multipolarity that he plans to refine and apply in a future career in diplomacy,” according to the Schwarzman Scholars website.
Krista Saleet, director of the Office of National Fellowships at Cornell, said that all Schwarzman scholars gain access to “world leaders” and industry experts in their respective fields through one-on-one mentorship, speaker series, and networking events.
At least one Cornell student has been selected for the program in every cohort since the scholarship’s founding.
“It's super exciting when somebody wins,” Saleet said. They're just glowing, and their path is set out. It’s a great moment.”
Teju Vijay is a member of the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a contributor for the News department and can be reached at tv95@cornell.edu.
