September 18, 2025
UW alum Evan Siu named Schwarzman Scholar
University of Washington alumnus Evan Siu, ’23, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most competitive graduate and fellowship programs.
Siu, who earned a bachelor’s degree in informatics, joins the program’s 10th class of 150 scholars chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants worldwide. Schwarzman Scholars will pursue a fully funded master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where they will study China’s role in global trends alongside leaders in business, technology and policy.
“Whether through software, policy, investment or classrooms, my goal is to widen access through technology to finance, information and trade networks so geography isn’t the limiting factor in human potential,” Siu said. “I’m excited to walk that path with my classmates, giving as much as I learn from all of them.”
In Beijing, Evan Siu, ’23, plans to engage with China’s technology sector and explore the region’s design, consumer services and global economic connections.
Siu is an associate product manager at Visa in San Francisco, where he has supported products across AI-powered fraud and identity, cross-border payments, small-business tools and cryptocurrency. He now works with Visa Ventures, helping shape the firm’s strategy for investing in fintechs and startups worldwide.
“My professional experiences have shown me how financial technology can bank the unbanked, reduce barriers in commerce and make interactions between nations more seamless,” Siu said. “I hope to apply those lessons to deepen U.S.–China collaboration.”
At the UW, Siu combined his informatics studies with leadership roles in entrepreneurship and technology communities. He was active in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, DubHacks Next, UW Blockchain Society, UW Consulting Association, and helped open undergraduate access to the Creative Destruction Lab during its inaugural year on campus.
Born in the United States and Chinese by ethnicity, Siu traces his passion for U.S.–China exchange to a middle-school trip to Shanghai, where QR-code payments first showed him how technology could simplify everyday life.
With the incoming class, the Schwarzman Scholars network includes more than 1,300 members from 104 countries and 459 institutions. Alumni of the program are leading across industries and working together to address urgent global challenges. This year’s record-high number of applications demonstrates young leaders’ growing investment in understanding China and shaping the future of global cooperation.
About the Schwarzman Scholars Program
The Schwarzman Scholars is an elite scholarship program founded in 2013 by Blackstone Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman. The program was created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century by preparing the next generation of global leaders.
Up to 200 scholars are selected annually from a broad range of backgrounds, including business, technology, science, politics, healthcare and more.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Schwarzman Scholars Program process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.