Three Huskies Selected as Schwarzman Scholars

Northeastern alumni Leon Jones III CAMD’24 and Joseph Schmitt DMSB’20, as well as undergraduate student Albee Mote DMSB’25, have been named Schwarzman Scholars, recipients of one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship programs, enabling them to attend a one-year, fully-funded master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The Schwarzman Scholars program prepares the next generation of global leaders for future challenges. Scholars have “demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and their potential to bridge and understand cultural and political differences,” according to the program.

Jones, Schmitt, and Mote are among the 150 students from 38 countries selected for the class of 2026 Schwarzman Scholars. With the new class, the Schwarzman Scholars celebrates its tenth cohort with an expanding network—now comprised of over 1,300 members— representing a total of 104 countries and 459 universities.

Leon Jones III CAMD’24, Media Advocacy
Mentors: Jonathan Kaufman, Meredith Clark, Peter Mancusi, Caleb Gayle, John Whibey

Leon Jones III is from Fayetteville, Arkansas and attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), where he majored in Political Science and Mass Communications. After completing his undergraduate studies, Leon enrolled at Northeastern University to pursue the Master’s program for Media Advocacy in the College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD). While at Northeastern, Leon hosted a critical conversation on Restorative Justice through the Center for Communication, Media Innovation, and Social Change. He also had the incredible opportunity to intern for Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation, Leon was awarded the Paul E. Hirshon Byline Award. Leon took his passion for communication and advocacy to work for Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell as her political communication manager.

As a former SGA President at the UA Pine Bluff, Leon knows well of the unique challenges facing recruitment and retention of students, access to opportunity, and ensuring equitable funding for 1890 Land-grant Institutions Programs as promised in the Second Morrill Act. These challenges can affect the survival of HBCUs. In the future, Leon will advocate for equitable policies to uplift these institutions.

Outside his studies and advocacy work, Leon enjoys his favorite restaurant in Boston, Mida, in the South End neighborhood. He looks forward to joining the rest of his Cohort in Beijing this August!

Albee Mote DMSB’25, Business Administration
Mentors: Jen Guillemin, Zhenyu Liao, Anthony Occidentale

Albee Mote was born and raised in Mandalay, Myanmar, home to the world’s oldest and longest teak wood bridge. She is an undergraduate senior at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business, studying social innovation, entrepreneurship, and management.

As the first daughter of Chinese-Burmese entrepreneurs and a first-generation college student, Albee’s upbringing has fueled her curiosity and passion for exploring the intersection of cultures. She is particularly interested in tackling questions about sustainable business practices and social entrepreneurship in developing economies, focusing on how human-centered design can provide solutions. Albee believes these issues are critical for the business world and have broader implications for global development and social equity.

To prepare for these challenges, Albee has engaged in experiences that have shaped her understanding and approach. She has started her own business, worked at a recycling paper firm, and contributed to a clean-tech startup as part of a 401(c) nonprofit. These roles have provided her with firsthand insight into the complexities of sustainable practices and innovation in different countries. Additionally, through her research in organizational behavior and human-centered design, Albee has deepened her knowledge of how these concepts can address pressing societal problems. Her leadership roles, including President, Director, and Project Lead in various organizations, have further developed her skills and commitment to creating impactful change.

As she embarks on the Schwarzman program, Albee aims to become a resource that bridges cultural and economic gaps between Myanmar and the global community, drawing on lessons learned from both China and the United States. She is immensely grateful for the support from her mentors, professors, and friends, including Anthony Occidentale, Zhenyu Liao, Jen Guillemin, Kimberly Do, and Heather Salter, as well as the robust communities at Northeastern, including organizations like Scout, GRC, Mosaic, and the URF office. In her free time, Albee enjoys online shopping and learning languages on Duolingo, she is proud to speak four languages fluently!

Joseph Schmitt DMSB’20 Finance
Mentors: David Myers, Alex Scott, Vanessa Johnson

At Northeastern, Joseph Schmitt studied finance and economics with a specific interest in developing economies. As an N.U.in student, he spent his first semester in London and would go on to study further in Scotland and Ghana deepening his global experience. He completed three co-ops — including time at Boston Consulting Group and Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC).

Schmitt began his career at PwC within their M&A Consulting business. During this time he applied for and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research in Zambia. As a Fulbright Scholar Schmitt led economic research on the perceived impact of ecotourism in remote villages within Sioma Ngwezi National Park. In addition to his Fulbright research, Schmitt wrote a book, Under a Zambian Tree, which chronicled one woman’s quest to educate and empower rural village children. Published in February of 2023, the book was well-received selling in over 21 countries, with the proceeds benefiting the subject, Dora Nyambe’s NGO.

Schmitt now leads international business development and strategy of an incubation hub at one of the world’s largest kitchen and bath companies. His work is focused on developing new sanitation and hygiene technologies that reduce open defecation and diarrheal diseases across the developing world. He spends the majority of his year traveling across Africa and Asia, collaborating with governments, NGOs, and private entities to coordinate the development and manufacturing of new toilet and handwashing technologies that help rural people gain safer access to sanitation.

About the honor of being named a Schwarzman Scholar, he shared, “There are so many people who helped me along this journey that I need to thank, specifically my recommenders, without whom this would not be possible, and the URF team for their continued support of my academic endeavors as an alumni and my family who encourage me every day.”