Congratulations to Christian Potts, Liam Reaser, and Shuyan Tang for being among the six U-M nominees for the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships!

The Marshall Scholarship finances young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to fifty Scholars are selected each year to study at the graduate level at a UK institution in any field of study. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments, and their institutions.

The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully-funded postgraduate award which enables talented young people from around the world to study full-time at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship is merit-based, to develop public-spirited leaders, and to promote international understanding and peace through an international community of Scholars.

Christian Potts is a third-year senior at the University of Michigan studying political science. He hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in public service and government, and is particularly interested in working to achieve pro-voter democratic reforms in the United States. He is currently a regional field leader with Rank MI Vote, the grassroots organization fighting for ranked-choice voting in Michigan through a ballot initiative. In that organization, Christian oversees a team of over 300 volunteers, has given over 60 presentations, and is one of the State's top-three signature gatherers. Christian was awarded the 2025 Honors Summer Fellowship to begin his undergraduate honors thesis in political science, in which he is seeking to uncover the factors that influence the degree of success of ballot initiative campaigns for democratic reform across the country. In his spare time, Christian enjoys traveling, running, playing chess, writing music on the piano, and spending time with his family and friends.

Liam Reaser is a senior at the University of Michigan, double majoring in political science and computer science. Liam is particularly interested in the nexus of technology, outer space, and defense policy, and will commission into the United States Space Force upon his graduation. Liam is currently writing a senior thesis for the Department of Political Science, studying how legislative redistricting impacts public opinion of different forms of government around the world. Liam also serves as president of his Alexander Hamilton Society chapter, and previously studied as a Boren Scholar in Seoul, Republic of Korea in 2024. If selected for either award, Liam intends to study International Relations at the University of Oxford. At Oxford, Liam hopes to research how current cyberwarfare doctrine and strategy may be applied to space warfare in the future. In his free time, Liam enjoys reading, running, working out, and language learning.

Shuyan Tang is a senior majoring in political science, a 2025 Harry S. Truman Scholar, and a first-generation American. Shaped by his own immigration experience, he has served in Congress, led a successful campaign as manager, and serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. His goal is to reform the U.S. immigration system through public service, and he plans to pursue a law degree to shape national immigration policy and build a more inclusive and compassionate America.