Recent Alumnae and Undergrad Named Schwarzman Scholars for Graduate Study in China

Scholars are selected based on leadership potential and entrepreneurial spirit, among other criteria

Headshots of two young women students
On left, recent Duke alum Elaine Zhang; on right DKU senior Amanda Niza Gonzalez Mejia

From an initial pool of just over 5,800 applicants, the highest number of applications in the program’s history, two recent Duke alum and one undergraduate student were among the 150 Schwarzman Scholars chosen from around the world. The Schwarzman Scholars of 2026 include recent alumna Qingyan (Elaine) Zhang of Duke, who completed her studies in December; DKU senior Amanda Niza Gonzalez Mejia; and DKU alumna Yufei Li, who graduated in 2024.

Scholars are selected based on leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, and a curiosity and interest in understanding other cultures and living in China.

The students will develop international leadership skills through the fully funded one-year master’s degree program in global affairs, designed to enable future leaders of the 21st century to engage with China.

Originally from Hangzhou, China, Zhang double majored in public policy and mathematics. While at Duke, she served as president of the Public Policy Majors’ Union, the executive print editor of the Duke Undergraduate Law Review, a resident assistant for first-year students, and a teaching assistant in the Chinese Program. 

Through her internship at a global NGO, Zhang produced a comprehensive mapping of Asian data sandboxes, platforms that allow innovators to test emerging technologies before releasing them for wide distribution. Upon completing her degree at Tsinghua University, Zhang plans to continue contributing to the research and decision making involved in governing and regulating international data. Zhang aspires to promote and advance ethical and responsible global data networks.

First International Undergraduate Student from DKU

Gonzalez Mejia is the first international undergraduate student from DKU to be selected. Gonzalez Mejia grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, before moving to the Washington, D.C., area at nine, navigating two politically charged environments that shaped her interest in development and public policy. When it came time for college, she applied to DKU, drawn by the opportunity to study in China despite having no prior Chinese-language training.

Gonzalez Mejia became deeply involved in student initiatives on campus. She helped establish multiple organizations, including the DKU Pre-Law Society, the Duke Impact Investing Group’s China branch and a yoga club. She also played a key role in launching DKU’s first Sino-international moot court competition, now a recurring event involving universities across China.

Gonzalez Mejia said she was drawn to the Schwarzman Scholars program for reasons similar to what initially attracted her to DKU: the opportunity to study China through the lenses of policy, business and leadership. Her proposed area of study focuses on how China’s green finance mechanisms, including public credit systems and sustainable investment policies, could inform development strategies in Latin America.

Yufei Li is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environment and energy at Columbia University and is president of the university’s Chinese Student and Scholar Association.

Launched in 2016, the Schwarzman Scholars program seeks to bring young leaders from around the world to learn from and study in China. Scholars engage with China by attending lectures, traveling, immersing in the culture, and exploring their area of academic focus.