Former First Lady Jill Biden (left) poses with Nina Gohel, who worked as a staff assistant in the Biden White House.
Mount Laurel resident Nina Gohel, a 2023 graduate of Rutgers-New Brunswick and daughter of Indian immigrants, has been named one of the latest Schwarzman Scholars.
The scholarship – funded by Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman and chief executive of the private-equity firm Blackstone Group – is a one-year, fully funded master’s degree program in global affairs from Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Gohel is among three Rutgers’ students selected this year.
Schwarzman scholarship officials noted nearly 5,000 candidates worldwide applied, a program record. Nearly 400 candidates were interviewed, producing a class of about 150 Schwarzman Scholars for the program’s 10th cohort. To date, nine Rutgers students have been selected for the scholarship.
Established in 2013, it’s designed to build a community of global leaders and deepen understanding between China and the world.
“Schwarzman Scholars consist of a cohort of the most influential global leaders in business, technology, politics and nonprofits around the world,” Gohel explained. “The beauty of Schwarzman is the ability to live and learn together at Tsinghua University, creating unparalleled connections with peers that will support both my future and theirs.”
“The Schwarzman Scholars program brings together students from all around the world and from a huge range of disciplines and backgrounds,” noted Anne Wallen, director of the Office of Distinguished Fellowships at Rutgers. “It’s an amazing opportunity for these future leaders to learn and grow together as a cohort.”
Gohel has been taking graduate courses at the Yenching Academy of Peking University in China since the fall of 2023. Gohel will graduate with a master’s degree in law and society. Earlier that year, she got the Yenching Scholarship to what is considered one of China’s top institutions. She graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers with dual bachelor of arts degrees in political science and planning and public policy, with a triple minor in economics, philosophy and politics and economics.
“As a scholar at Yenching Academy of Peking University, I have gained a top-tier academic experience, all while immersing myself in Chinese culture, conducting research on gender policy across China, and making lifelong friendships,” Gohel recounted.
She credits the Office of Distinguished Fellowships at Rutgers-New Brunswick – specifically its director, Anne Wallen – for helping her apply to both scholarships and for being a guiding force throughout the process.
“Nina was one of the very first students I met when I came to Rutgers, and it’s been a privilege to get to see her develop over the past couple of years,” Wallen pointed out. “(Gohel) always struck me as being absolutely whip smart and having a clear commitment to public service. She is also one of those students whom I always have to ask if she’s getting enough sleep (because) she does so much.
“Her energy and enthusiasm for her work is inspirational.”
As an undergraduate, Gohel received the Rutgers–New Brunswick Chancellor Provost Revolutionary Award for her work increasing voter turnout and registration through the Eagleton Institute’s Darien Civic Engagement Project. She also was an undergraduate associate at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, a Ralph W. Voorhees Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
At Rutgers, Gohel was the first Asian American and Pacific Islander woman to be elected as vice president of the student body. She was an intern at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Interior, and has since gone on to work for the state department. In her senior year and following graduation, Gohel worked as a staff assistant for the Biden White House.
As a Yenching Scholar, Gohel has been researching a gender quota system in China that helps guarantee the presence of women in political governing bodies. She hopes to support women in developing nations worldwide.
“Currently, I am drawing insights from gender quota systems around the globe to develop a transferable, foundational model that empowers women to serve in public office and fosters equitable representation,” she said. “My work in China is crucial due to the limited data on the nation’s quota system. From a broader perspective, for the foreseeable future, China will remain a key factor for U.S. decision making in international politics.
“This is why the mission of Schwarzman is so important,” she added. “We need global leaders who are knowledgeable about China to make informed decisions that ensure positive outcomes. I hope to contribute to this effort with a career in the U.S. government.”
Gohel plans to attend law school after completing her studies in China.
