Northwestern senior named Schwarzman Scholar

Anita Bassey, a senior in the McCormick School of Engineering, has been named a 2026 Schwarzman Scholar.

One of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship opportunities, Schwarzman Scholars receive full funding to pursue a one-year master’s degree program in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

The program selected this year’s 150 scholars — based on leadership potential, academic achievement and commitment to global progress — from a pool of more than 5,800 applicants, the highest number in the Schwartzman Scholarship’s 11-year history.

At Northwestern, Bassey studies biomedical engineering as a QuestBridge Scholar. In labs within McCormick and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, she contributed to research programs at the intersection of medicine and technology. As a Schwarzman Scholar, Bassey will study the evolution of China’s healthcare policies, innovation and investment. She is particularly interested in understanding how China has shaped access to care across its large population.

“Anita and the Schwarzman Scholarship are a perfect match,” said Elizabeth Lewis Pardoe, director of Northwestern’s Office of Fellowships. “The formal curriculum will build upon her impressive array of experiences across McCormick and Feinberg to develop public health solutions for resource-poor environments.”

Bassey grew up in both the United States and Nigeria. For the past four years, she has held executive leadership roles with Northwestern’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. She also founded the NU Bike Club, a social venture that promotes wellness, collaboration and community building.

After her Schwarzman Scholarship concludes, Bassey plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. With an eye toward expanding global access to advanced healthcare, she will research and design affordable diagnostic devices.

“I’m excited to learn alongside an international cohort with different perspectives on health systems and translational research and to think more deeply about what it takes to move impactful health solutions from the lab into real-world care,” Bassey said. “I’m also looking forward to using this experience to explore China-Africa relations, especially in the healthcare sector and to better understand what these partnerships mean for innovation, capacity building and health outcomes.”

Launched in 2016 by American philanthropist Stephen A. Schwarzman, the Schwarzman Scholars program seeks to develop leaders who can promote understanding between China and the rest of the world. The program focuses on leadership, building global relationships and navigating geopolitical complexity.

Northwestern students interested in pursuing scholarship and fellowship opportunities can contact the Office of Fellowships.