Tianxin Li, alumna of the International and Comparative Education Program (ICEP) at Teachers College, Columbia University, has been awarded the prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University.
Reflecting on her experience in ICEP, Li shared that the program helped her connect her personal experiences to broader global questions surrounding education, international affairs, and cross-cultural communication.
ICEP helped me place my own experiences within a broader framework of global education and international affairs. Before coming to TC, my background in figure skating had already involved a lot of cross-cultural communication, international events, and collaboration with technical officials from different countries.
Through ICEP, Li began to better understand these experiences within the larger context of global education and international engagement. She also began thinking more deeply about sports not only as competition, but also as a form of education and cultural connection.
Li explained that her experience during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics inspired her to think more seriously about sports diplomacy, youth leadership, and China’s role in globalization. She became increasingly interested in how young people can serve as communicators and bridge-builders across cultures and national contexts.
The Schwarzman Scholars program offered an opportunity to continue exploring leadership, public policy, and international relations while building upon the interdisciplinary foundation she developed through ICEP.
Looking ahead, Li hopes to continue working at the intersection of sports, education, international communication, and public diplomacy. Her interests include youth exchange initiatives, international sports organizations, global education programs, sports media, and projects that foster cross-cultural understanding through athletics.
My advice for current ICEP students is not to see ICEP only as an academic program. It can also be a chance to rethink your own story. Everyone comes with different experiences, whether in education, sports, media, nonprofit work, or policy. ICEP gives you the tools to connect those experiences to bigger global questions.”