U-M Economics Alumni Shivam Shankar Singh and John Petrie have been selected as part of the 2022 class of Schwarzman Scholars, a fully funded, one-year master’s degree and leadership program at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Joining a diverse, global cohort of 148 scholars, including 4 other U-M students and alumni, Shivam and John will gain a greater understanding of Chinese language, history, and standing in the modern world through hands-on exploration of Chinese culture and commerce.

For Shivam, studying economics at U-M greatly influenced the way he sees and engages with an ever changing, complex world. After graduating with his bachelors in 2015, Shivam worked in the Indian Parliament as a Legislative Assistant to Member of Parliament (LAMP) Fellow, before moving on to India's largest political consultancy firm. He later headed data analytics for India's largest political party in the North East region of the country and now runs his own data consultancy. Shivam also wrote a best-selling book titled "How to Win an Indian Election," and is currently working on a second book on disinformation and cyber warfare, to be published by HarperCollins mid-2021. Shivam looks forward to furthering his understanding of China's economic, political, and social systems through the Schwarzman Scholars program.

Since graduating in 2018, John has relied on his economics degree in his work as a consultant at Bain & Company, a management consulting firm which advises leaders from various industries on the challenges they face from marketing to sustainability. John hopes this program will help him build strong relationships with other scholars and develop his understanding of the Chinese sustainable food market. John also holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from his time at U-M.