Batten student Lisette Dubow (BA '22) and two other UVA students have been selected to pursue a one-year Master of Global Affairs degree in China as Schwarzman Scholars.

Dubow, Christopher Benos and Nicholas Keeley will attend Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and are among 151 Schwarzman Scholars from 106 universities in 33 countries. They are UVA’s ninth, 10th and 11th Schwarzman Scholars since the program started in 2016.

The program’s core curriculum at Schwarzman College focuses on leadership, China and global affairs. It is taught by Tsinghua faculty and international scholars, and incorporates frequent guest lecturers.

Outside the classroom, Schwarzman Scholars have access to China through internships, mentors, high-profile speakers and world-renowned researchers. Scholars receive a range of career development resources to help position them following graduation.

“Three students, in three very different stages of their development, from four different schools at the University,” said Andrus G. Ashoo, director of the Office of Citizen Scholar Development, the fellowships office of UVA. “It doesn’t always happen this way, but it is great to see such breadth of personality and experience represented among the recipients from UVA alone. I am really proud to have crossed paths with each of them.

“The Schwarzman focuses on leadership, but it is otherwise a global opportunity available to almost any student at the University.”

Dubow, of Princeton, New Jersey, is a fourth-year public policy and leadership major at the Batten School, with a minor in Chinese and Middle Eastern studies.

“I have always envisioned myself living and working in various countries throughout my career,” Dubow said. “The Schwarzman will give me an ideal start toward building my global network. I’m looking forward to spending time in China and making friends with such distinguished individuals.”

Dubow is anxious to immerse herself in building relationships with the other scholars, guest speakers and faculty at Tsinghua University and within the Schwarzman Scholars program.

“I want to expand my leadership capabilities and cross-cultural knowledge so that I can productively contribute to the future of U.S.-China relations,” she said. “I am also interested to see how living in China and engaging in the Schwarzman Scholars amplifies and/or changes my policy interests and passions.”

Dubow applied to the Schwarzman Scholars program to better understand how the U.S. and China could shape the future of global public health.

“I am eager to understand how current and future leaders conceive the importance of health advocacy strategies, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “After Schwarzman, I will keep expanding my interest in public health advocacy by studying health education disparities across the globe. My goal is to amplify culturally inclusive health promotion techniques worldwide.”

“Lisette’s natural empathy and compassion make her a truly phenomenal student and leader,” said Amanda Cheetham, assistant director of the Peer Health Educators program in UVA’s Office of Health Promotion. “She absolutely radiates authenticity and positivity. Anyone who is lucky enough to work closely with her will walk away from their interaction feeling inspired, supported and intrigued. Lisette’s life experiences and academic choices have prepared her perfectly for this opportunity. She is going to thrive in this environment with the opportunity to interact with others from around the world to sharpen her leadership skills.”

Dubow worked as a research assistant for Gabrielle Adams, an assistant professor at the Batten School.

“Lisette is the kind of person who will excel at whatever she sets her mind to,” Adams said. “She is incredibly smart and hard-working and has achieved so much at UVA. I look forward to watching her succeed in similar ways as a Schwarzman Scholar.”

“Lisette is probably the student I have seen grow more through a fellowship process than any other this year,” Ashoo said. “She is genuinely curious and takes criticism well, and I think she will put her fellow scholars at ease to be themselves.”