The Schwarzman Scholars program at Tsinghua University in Beijing brings together an international cohort of future global leaders to learn about China’s place in the world and the geopolitical challenges of the 21st century. Schwarzman Scholars complete a combination of leadership and global affairs coursework taught by internationally renowned experts, experiential learning projects and culture immersion trips, and will be mentored by leaders in Chinese government and industry. Following their year-long experience, Schwarzman Scholars join an international community of thinkers, innovators and senior leaders in business, politics and society. The Schwarzman Advisory Board includes luminaries such as Tony Blair, Condoleeza Rice and Yo-Yo Ma, among others.
This year, U-M graduate David Schafer joins that prestigious global community.
David was selected from a global pool of nearly 5,000 applicants as one of this year’s 145 Schwarzman Scholars. As he anticipates joining the 2021 Schwarzman Scholar cohort, he looks back on his time as the President of Central Student Government as an integral part of who he is today. Specifically, David credits his fellow student government peers with teaching him some of his most valuable life lessons in leadership and continues to refer back to his experience with CSG as a pivotal moment in his life trajectory.
David also thanks his mentor, ONSF Director, Henry Dyson and the LSA Honors Program for their continued support in his academic and personal goals. For David, the Honors Program was as an experience that both enriched his academics and supported his endeavor to use the knowledge gained in the classroom to better U-M’s campus and leave a lasting impact. While a member of the Honors Program, David designed his own major in Peace, Conflict, and Human Rights and worked with the Dean of Students Office to launch the Student Leadership Engagement Scholarship. David’s experiences had a lasting effect on the Honors Program: he was a key influence in launching Honors Engaged Liberal Arts (HELA), an option for students to develop projects combining academics with civic engagement or leadership experiences.
After graduation David joined the NYC Mayor’s Office as Urban City Fellow, was nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship. He currently works as a healthcare consultant for Evolent Health in Washington, DC. David is particularly interested in pursuing a career in health law and policy and hopes to pursue a career implementing and developing healthcare policies and creating access for people of all backgrounds. Looking forward to his time in China, David says, "One of my central goals with the Schwarzman Scholars Program is to build lasting relationships with the members of my cohort - emerging global leaders of varied interests and passions - and to leverage this network as each of us strives to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable international community."
Please visit the ONSF Website for more information about applying to Schwarzman Scholars. Additional information can be found on the Schwarzman Scholars program site.
