The Office of National Scholarship Advisement is delighted to announce that two University of Mississippi seniors have been awarded the Yenching Fellowship.

Lennis Barlow and Matthew Travers are both seniors in International Studies and Chinese and members of the Honors College. Barlow is also completing a minor in Environmental Studies, and Travers a minor in Swahili. They are two of the 100 outstanding young scholars who will enroll in the interdisciplinary Master’s in China Studies program this September. The scholars hail from 30 countries and regions; 69 international students will come together with 25 Chinese students. This is the first time UM students have been awarded.

The Yenching brings together young people who have demonstrated a talent for leadership and innovation in an interdisciplinary master’s program. The Yenching Academy of Peking University was established in 2014 with the goal of building bridges between China and the rest of the world through an interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies. The Yenching Academy provides full fellowships to its scholars for two years at Peking University. At Yenching, they are immersed in an intensive learning environment where they can explore China and its role in the world—past, present, and future. The Academy’s goal is to shape new generations of global citizens with a nuanced understanding of China.

Barlow plans to pursue a master’s degree in China studies with a focus on environmental policies. Barlow is the president of Real Food Rebels Student Organization. She has closely with ASB and the Office of Sustainability to coordinate campus efforts to create a more energy efficient, recycling friendly, and inclusive campus environment. She is particularly excited about incorporating her existing research into her experience in China.

“Through the Yenching Academy, I will be able to further my current thesis research on Chinese water policy and environmental discourses while also continuing to develop my language skills. I am beyond excited for the opportunity to work alongside Yenching’s community of global scholars”

Matt is a Stamps Scholar, and the recipient of the Boren, Critical Languages and NSLI-Y scholarships. As a Yenching Fellow, Matt plans to study politics and international relations, focusing on China-Tanzania relations. “I plan to research China’s language policies and soft power in Swahili-speaking East African countries. I hope to use my proficiency in Chinese and Swahili to learn more about China’s influence in East Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative and Confucius Institute.”

Congratulations to Lennis and Matt!

Want to learn more about the Yenching and be a competitive applicant in 2022? Get in touch with Dr. Ibrahim at the Office of National Scholarship Advisement. vibrahim@olemiss.edu