Politics and Prestige

Santa Clara Alumnus to study international relations for free in Beijing

Krista ClawsonTHE SANTA CLARAJanuary 21, 2016

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] Santa Clara alumnus will be taking the halls of China’s best university by storm this August, and it won’t cost him a dime.

Jesse Caemmerer ’14 was one of just 111 students from a pool of 3,000 applicants who were accepted into the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars, a master’s degree scholarship program at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

“Jesse has an extraordinary mind and the type of personality that will not only be able to thoughtfully and critically analyze problems, but who will be particularly good at building consensus and bringing people together to address some of society’s toughest problems,” said Leilani Miller, associate professor of biology and director of the university honors program.

Caemmerer transferred to Santa Clara from a community college in 2012. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations, then won a Rotary Global Scholarship to complete a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from Nanyang Technological University, where he graduated top of his class.

He works as a Research Analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, focusing on irregular warfare and Asia-Pacific security.

He applied for the program to gain a greater understanding of how China perceives U.S. policy and the domestic factors that influence China’s foreign policy and relationship with the United States.

“Forming policy without a deep understanding of China’s domestic political processes and influences is not only counterproductive to U.S. interests, but to the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region at large,” Caemmerer said.

Caemmerer was among 300 semi-finalists selected for in-person interviews in Beijing, London, New York or Bangkok, where he was interviewed.

International panels composed of former heads of state, CEOs, university presidents, nonprofit executives and journalists conducted interviews and selected the inaugural class.

“Jesse is very, very good academically, has great personal character, and is very interested in really significant issues with regard to the future of the world,” said Eric Hanson, who taught two of Caemmerer’s classes and wrote his letter of recom- mendation along with Dennis Gordon.

The scholarship is fully funded for all participants. Scholars will spend one year studying, immersing themselves in Chinese culture, attending lectures and traveling.

The program, which is modeled after the Rhodes Scholarship, is designed to prepare future leaders for the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century. 

Caemmerer plans to use his degree to help him conduct academic research of U.S.-China relations, with an emphasis on security policy.

“This is an increasingly prominent and also divisive aspect of the bilateral relationship,” he said. “U.S. policy must be based on solid research and a deep understanding of China.”

“It is also an important time for academics to shape the discourse on U.S.-China relations to increase public understanding,” Caemmerer added.

The program intends to spend $450 million on scholarships.

This makes Schwarzman Scholars the single largest internationally-funded philanthropic effort in China’s history.

The scholarship is named after Stephen A. Schwarzman, the Chairman, CEO and co-founder of U.S. asset management firm, Blackstone.

Schwarzman personally contributed $100 million to the program.

“We founded this scholarship program with Tsinghua University, perhaps China’s most prestigious university, to help build stronger links between future leaders of China and those from the rest of the rapidly changing world,” Schwarzman said.

Caemmerer became interested in these subjects after studying abroad in Beijing  while at Santa Clara and completed his dissertation on China’s foreign assistance policy.

“Looking back on my time at Santa Clara, it was the place that first gave me the spark of inquiry and desire to learn that continues to drive me forward,” he said.

He also had a transformative experience in Timor-Leste, a small country in South East Asia, in 2013, where he went as part of the Santa Clara Jean Donovan Fellowship.

He witnessed a significant amount of suffering in the country,  which inspired him to use his skills to help others, Miller said.

During his initial time and numerous trips since, he has been involved in projects from nutrition development programs to higher education and mentoring programs.

“I have made lifelong friendships and connections there, and it is a place and society that I learn so much from every visit I make,” he said.

Contact Krista Clawson at kclawson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.