Third-year Hofstra Law student Serena Newberry has been accepted to the Schwarzman Scholars program, a highly competitive international post graduate fellowship in China that combines coursework, cultural immersion, and professional development to train the next generation of global leaders.
Newberry, who is from Detroit, Michigan, was chosen from among nearly 3,000 applicants for the 2023 class of Schwarzman Scholars. Just 151 young people – or about five percent of those who applied – were accepted to the yearlong master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The 2023 class represents 33 countries and 106 universities worldwide. Newberry is the first Hofstra University student accepted to the program.
The Schwarzman Scholars program, modeled after the Rhodes Scholarship program, began in 2015 to build a global community of future leaders who will serve to deepen understanding
“Serena Newberry is an accomplished young woman with a fierce commitment to service, scholarship and advocacy,” said Hofstra University President Susan Poser. “The Schwarzman Scholars program is a training ground for thoughtful young global leaders like Serena, and we’re so proud that they’ve recognized and want to cultivate her talent and drive.”
Newberry, who has taught Mandarin and martial arts, is interested in education reform, public policy, and immigration issues. She is co-founder of a non-profit in her hometown called Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages (K.I.D.S.) that offers free, high-quality afterschool programming and was a public policy fellow for the United Way of Southeastern Michigan. At Hofstra Law, she was a legal intern with Hofstra Law’s Youth Advocacy Clinic, representing minors in special immigrant juvenile matters, and a former president of the Black Law Students Association. She graduated summa cum laude from Xavier University of Louisiana with a degree in English.
“As a Schwarzman Scholar, I hope to gain a broad network of allies in my efforts to reform the American education system,” Newberry said. “In the United States of America and many other countries, young people living in underserved neighborhoods are denied equal access to a quality education, limiting their ability to surpass the socioeconomic status into which they were born. Improving upon existing education policy, domestically and abroad, is a large task that will require many contributors on every level of engagement, and I aim to use the experiences I have in the Schwarzman Scholars program to ensure the success of this vision.
“When making decisions about my education and future profession, I have always considered how I could maintain and build on my ties to China,” Newberry said. “This feels like another step forward in using my passion for this country to build positive relationships with the United States to produce more global leaders in every field.”
Said Hofstra Law Dean Judge Gail Prudenti: “Serena exemplifies what it means to be a difference-maker at Hofstra Law and in the community. We wish her the best as she enters this next phase in her career and develops as a leader on a global stage.”
Schwarzman Scholars selects students of demonstrated academic excellence from different countries, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. This is the seventh cohort of the program. Each year, the academic program is updated to accord with current and future geopolitical priorities. Scholars are taught by leading international and Tsinghua faculty, with frequent guest lectures from prominent global thought leaders. Beyond the classroom, Scholars gain exceptional exposure to China and access to important relationships through internships, mentors, high-profile speakers, and world-renowned faculty members. Scholars are also provided with a range of career development resources to help position them to lead in various industries upon graduation. This year’s applicants demonstrated the extent to which young leaders understand the timely importance of fostering peaceful and prosperous relations with China.
“The seventh cohort is an impressive group,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, founding trustee of Schwarzman Scholars. “The world needs Schwarzman Scholars now more than ever before. We are confident that these extraordinary young people will seize this opportunity to act with intellect and integrity, address pressing global issues, deepen cross-cultural connections, and fulfill the mission of Schwarzman Scholars: to create a steadfast network of future global leaders.”
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