A scholarship for a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University has been awarded to six Columbia University students. 

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on Monday, December 12 to include Alison Kahn (BC ’21).

Six Columbia students have been selected as members of the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2024. The Schwarzman Scholarship is dedicated to supporting leaders interested in studying China’s current role in globalization. This program took inspiration from the Rhodes Scholarship and selects 200 individuals each year to participate in a one-year master’s program in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. 

Yucheng (David) Chen (GS ’23) is majoring in Political Science. He is interested in public diplomacy and stimulating direct conversation among global citizens. Before attending Columbia, Chen worked in developing countries near China to develop grassroots projects aimed at facilitating peaceful cooperation.

Kewen Kong (CC ’23) is majoring in Comparative Literature and Italian. He is interested in studying literature, film, fashion and gastronomy and their ability to bridge the political chasms between China and Western nations. Kong aims to institute a platform to promote conversation between global leaders, drawing on his belief that storytelling can help surpass political divisions. 

Rory Madigan (CC ’20) is a recent Columbia graduate who majored in Political Science and was a member of the men’s soccer team. He currently works with venture capital at Crane Partners and was previously awarded the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan. Madigan is interested in studying preventative healthcare startups and the Chinese private market. 

Vishwanatha Rao (SEAS ’23) is majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He would like to study medical AI and dataset aggregation in an international context. Currently, Rao is a co-author of six peer-review publications and 12 posters/presentations. 

Charles Wallace (CC ’23) is majoring in Political Science and East Asian Languages and Culture. He plans to attend law school and work in public service with a focus on US-China relations. Wallace has previously worked as a legislative intern for two US senators, where he focused on foreign policy. 

Alison Kahn (BC ’21) is a recent Barnard graduate who majored in Political Science and Human Rights. At Barnard, she led initiatives for global health and immigrant rights. Since graduating, she has served as the David Paul Policy Fellow at the American Friends Service Committee. She hopes to use the Scholarship to advance justice and peace in light of the climate crisis.

More about each recipient can be found in statements made by Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the School of General Studies, and Barnard College.

Cover Image via Bwog Archives