Samia Abdi (BS '21, psychology) Named Schwarzman Scholar
Samia Abdi has been selected to join the tenth cohort of Schwarzman Scholars—one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship programs. As part of the program, Abdi will embark on a fully funded one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China.
The Schwarzman Scholars program, established by financier Stephen Schwarzman, aims to address the complex geopolitical challenges of the 21st century. Each year, it prepares a new generation of global leaders through rigorous academic training and leadership development. Abdi joins an elite group of 150 scholars representing 38 countries and 105 universities worldwide, chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants.
A psychology major with a minor in computer science, Abdi left her mark in the College of Liberal Arts through her interdisciplinary approach to socially constructive computing. As an undergraduate, she conducted groundbreaking research in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Lab within the Department of Psychiatry, examining racial and ethnic disparities in the treatment of children with fetal alcohol syndrome. Her research inspired a capstone project exploring intergenerational patterns of historical trauma and fetal alcohol syndrome in Indigenous populations around the world.
She also served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Computer Science, participated in hackathons to develop socially impactful programming applications, and worked as a community adviser on campus. During her senior year, she was president of the Al-Madinah Cultural Center, promoting cultural understanding and inclusivity. Off-campus, she co-founded and directed Enjoining Good, a nonprofit organization providing aid and education to orphans in the Horn of Africa.
Since earning her degree, Abdi has built on her accomplishments as a software engineer at J.P. Morgan Chase in Chicago. Her selection as a Schwarzman Scholar is a testament to her leadership qualities and commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding.
The Schwarzman Scholars program is built on the pillars of China, leadership, and global affairs. Through an immersive curriculum, the program equips the scholars with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of the global landscape.