Five Princetonians Named Schwarzman Scholars

Two Princeton seniors and three young alumni have been named to the Class of 2027 Schwarzman Scholars and will pursue master’s degrees in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing as part of the one-year, fully funded program. 

Kalena Blake ’24, a public and international affairs major, is currently an intern in the defense program at the Center for a New American Security. At Princeton, she was a managing editor of The Daily Princetonian and captain of women’s lightweight rowing. As a Schwarzman Scholar, according to the organization’s website, she “hopes to advance U.S. foreign policy and navigate the U.S.-China rivalry without conflict.” 

Gustavo Blanco-Quiroga ’25, a sociology major who received certificates in entrepreneurship and the Program in Latin American Studies, is currently a Mellon Foundation fellow and a Princeton Labouisse fellow, through which he co-founded an “Indigenous-led environmental restoration project in Bolivia,” where he is from. As a Schwarzman Scholar, Blanco-Quiroga “aims to investigate the socio-environmental impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative” — an economic and globalization strategy launched in 2013 — “in South America, focusing on lithium exploitation,” according to the Schwarzman Scholars site. 

Alison Lee ’24 majored in computer science at Princeton and received certificates in entrepreneurship, cognitive science, and technology and society. She is currently an associate at Boston Consulting Group. During her time at Princeton, she created FemaleFounded, an undergraduate conference that aims to empower and connect female entrepreneurs worldwide. According to the Schwarzman Scholars website, Lee “is eager to learn about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in China,” while studying at Tsinghua. 

Margaret Miao ’26, a mechanical engineering major, has experience with medical biomaterial integration, clean tech, and robotic surgery projects. Previously, she was director of the Princeton Biotech Group and served as a Time Fellow. Her goal as a Schwarzman Scholar is to “accelerate translational medicine and technology while expanding access for rural communities,” according to the organization. 

Alex Tseng ’26, an electrical and computer engineering major, is “driven by a mission for affordable, reliable, and decarbonized electricity,” according to the Schwarzman Scholars website. In addition to a plethora of activities at Princeton, such as serving on the board of the Princeton University Energy Association, Tseng founded and serves as president of a company that provides intelligent grid services. He is focused on bridging “technical innovation with the social, regulatory, and geopolitical realities of power markets.” 

For more than a decade, the Schwarzman Scholars program has provided education on China and global affairs to select scholars, leading them to gain “the experience and knowledge to advance international collaboration,” according to the organization.