Barnard women follow their curiosity wherever it leads them — whether it’s here in New York or as far away as China. Jacqueline Wang ’21 is no exception. The recent graduate, named a member of the 2024-2025 class of Schwarzman Scholars in December 2023, will travel to Beijing this fall to participate in a one-year, fully funded master’s program in global affairs at Tsinghua University.
The Barnard alumna was selected from a pool of over 4,000 candidates, a “near-record high number of applicants,” according to the Schwarzman Scholars website. She joins a cohort of 150 scholars from 114 universities around the world.
“I am thrilled to be selected as a Schwarzman Scholar. I am very much looking forward to joining a diverse and capable cohort and having heated discussions that spark meaningful ideas,” said Wang. “I hope to add my own stories to the community and will be committed to building something that has a positive global impact.”
Since graduating from Barnard in 2021 with a degree in math and computer science, Wang has worked as a private equity professional, advancing technological progress through a process called value investing, an investment strategy focused on buying stocks that are priced less than their actual worth. As a Schwarzman Scholar, she hopes to continue investigating how future generations can come together, across borders, to promote global collaboration on technological advancement.
“For me, this fellowship provides an opportunity to hear from voices from all over the world, to understand the complexity of reaching consensus for people coming from different backgrounds, and to learn how to leverage resources to reach a global optimum,” she said.
The Schwarzman Scholars Program, which launched in 2013, is designed to support the next generation of leaders — whether in politics, business, or science. Through a year of coursework, cultural immersion, and professional development opportunities, selected scholars gain an understanding of China’s role in global trends and the global landscape at large.
“The caliber of this incoming class and their potential fills me with optimism for the future,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, founding trustee of Schwarzman Scholars. “This year’s selected scholars are keenly interested in learning about China, which is now more important than ever in this complex geopolitical environment. They are ready to engage thoughtfully with global issues and eager to make a positive impact on the world.”
With the help of Beyond Barnard — which advises students and alumnae on competitive fellowships as part of its career support resources — Barnard has established an impressive track record of Schwarzman Scholars participants. In the past six years, five Barnard alumnae have been accepted to the prestigious global program.
Wang credits the Barnard education’s focus on critical thinking and teamwork for preparing her for this new opportunity. “I learned that through collaborative work and brainstorming, we could come up with great ideas and achieve things that one cannot achieve by herself,” she said.
The program for the new class will begin in August 2024.
About Schwarzman Scholars
Schwarzman Scholars is a one-year, fully funded master’s program in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. As the first scholarship of its kind created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century, Schwarzman Scholars aspires to build a global network of young leaders that are prepared to confront the pressing challenges facing the world.
Each year, up to 200 candidates from around the world are chosen for this highly selective program. Scholars are selected based on their leadership qualities and the potential to understand and bridge cultural and political differences. They live in Beijing for a year of intensive study, honing leadership skills through a curriculum designed and taught by leading academics from internationally ranked institutions.