Juanyi Yu, the daughter of Yuejian Gao and Zhan Yu of Zhejiang, has been named a McDonnell International Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in information engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, which is one of 15 leading Asian universities partnered with Washington University in St. Louis in the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. She also participated in a summer study program at the University of California, Berkeley.
Ms. Yu is pursuing a doctorate in electrical engineering in the Sever Graduate School of Engineering and expects her study to continue for five years. Her career goal is to become a leader in the technology field in China or Hong Kong.
“We were extremely impressed with Juanyi Yu’s application to the McDonnell Academy,” said James V. Wertsch, Ph.D., the Marshall S. Snow Professor in Arts & Sciences and Director of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. “She clearly is an outstanding student, and she also promises to develop into one of the global leaders of tomorrow. We take particular pride at the Academy in helping individuals like Ms. Yu fulfill their potential as members of a network of future leaders.”
The McDonnell International Scholars Academy is both new and unique. Employing an unusual structure and approach, it brings together top scholars from many countries to pursue world-class education and research while forging a strong network with one another. Key to this are partnerships Washington University has established with top universities and corporations around the world with an eye to increasing opportunities for joint research and global education.
The McDonnell Academy Scholars are considered future world leaders in their fields. As such, they are provided not only rigorous graduate instruction, but a thorough cultural, political and social education designed to prepare them as leaders knowledgeable about the United States, other countries, and critical international issues.
Once selected for this highly competitive program, each scholar is matched with a distinguished member of the Washington University faculty who serves as a mentor for the scholar and also as an “ambassador” to the university partner from which the scholar has graduated. The ambassador assists the McDonnell Scholar in academic and professional life and travels annually with the scholar to the partner university to build relationships between the two institutions.
Ping Wang, Ph.D., the Seigle Family Professor in Arts & Sciences and chair of the Department of Economics in Arts & Sciences is Ms. Yu’s faculty mentor-ambassador. He received his bachelor of science degree in ocean transportation from the National Chao Tung University in the Republic of China. He holds master’s degrees in economics from National Chengchi University and the University of Rochester, and his doctorate in economics was awarded by the University of Rochester in 1987. Dr. Wang’s research areas include money and macroeconomics, growth and development, and spatial/health economics. Since 2001, he has served as research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The McDonnell Academy Scholars receive funding for full tuition, living expenses and travel to and from St. Louis. Most of the scholars reside in two fully equipped and furnished apartment buildings near campus.
Funding is provided through a sustaining endowment gift from John F. McDonnell, vice chairman of the Washington University Board of Trustees and retired chairman of the board of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, additional endowment pledges, and 11 multinational corporate and foundation sponsors. Sponsoring corporations also offer internships and on-site educational opportunities for the Academy’s Corporate Fellows.