Schwarzman Scholars Names Amy Celico as New Executive Director

NEW YORK and BEIJING, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Schwarzman Scholars today announced that Amy Celico has been named as its new Executive Director, effective March 3, 2025. Ms. Celico has had a 30-year career spanning the academic, public, and private sectors as an established China expert.

Ms. Celico joins Schwarzman Scholars as it prepares to welcome its tenth cohort of Scholars. As Executive Director, Ms. Celico will oversee the day-to-day operations of the program's New York office. Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship of its kind created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century. A one-year, fully-funded master's program, its mission is to build the next generation of global leaders who will collaborate to address the world's most pressing challenges. Schwarzman Scholars is based at Schwarzman College in Tsinghua University, one of China's most prestigious academic institutions, and comprises a community of over 1,300 young leaders representing 104 countries.

"We are excited to welcome Amy Celico to Schwarzman Scholars," said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Blackstone and Founding Trustee of Schwarzman Scholars. "She brings a deep understanding of China and its global relationships from her time in top posts in government, the private sector, and academia. Under Amy's dynamic leadership, we are confident that the program will build on its success in developing future leaders primed to help the world tackle the most pressing challenges."

"I look forward to collaborating with Amy Celico to forward the mission of Schwarzman Scholars in its second decade," said Xue Lan, Dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. "As our international Scholar community continues to grow, I am confident that our partnership will ensure that Schwarzman Scholars continues to promote international collaboration and dialogue in a complex world."

Most recently, Ms. Celico was a Partner and Co-Lead of the China practice at global advisory firm DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group. While there, Ms. Celico advised corporate and non-profit clients operating in China. Prior to joining DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, Celico served as Senior Director for China Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, monitoring China's WTO compliance and developing U.S.-China trade policies. Her U.S. government experience also includes having served as Deputy Director of the Office of the Chinese Economic Area at the U.S. Department of Commerce, as head of the Trade Facilitation Office at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, as an intelligence analyst at the U.S. Department of State, and as Vice Consul for economic affairs at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai. Outside of government service, Celico served as Director of Development at the Johns Hopkins-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies and as a bilingual assistant to the Executive Director for China at the International Monetary Fund. Celico currently serves on the boards of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Care for Children U.S.

"Amy's unique background in the private sector, academia, and government institutions will help strengthen the program in all areas and bring it to the next level," said Amy Stursberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation. "I look forward to our partnership and to all that our Scholars will learn from her."

"I am honored to join Schwarzman Scholars as Executive Director," said Ms. Celico. "Understanding China's role on the global stage has never been more important for emerging leaders, across industries and geographies. I am excited to build on the program's robust foundation and already thriving community to advance its mission."

Ms. Celico holds a Master of International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a B.A. with honors in Asian studies from Mount Holyoke College, and she is a graduate of The Hopkins-Nanjing Center in Nanjing, China.

About Schwarzman Scholars

Schwarzman Scholars is a one-year, fully-funded master's degree program in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. An unparalleled learning experience, it is the first scholarship of its kind created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century and designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders.

Each year, up to 200 candidates from around the world are selected to join a diverse cohort. Schwarzman Scholars seeks candidates with leadership qualities and the potential to foster cross-cultural understanding. Scholars come from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds, such as business, technology, science, politics, healthcare, and more. Schwarzman Scholars' dynamic curriculum—based on the pillars of China, leadership, and global affairs—is designed to provide Scholars with the knowledge, skills, and firsthand experience needed to navigate the complexities of the evolving global landscape. Through an immersive experience in China, Scholars spend a year living in Beijing, studying at the prestigious Tsinghua University under the guidance of leading academics and global thought leaders.

Schwarzman Scholars was established in 2013 by Founding Trustee Stephen A. Schwarzman. Inspired by his vision, Schwarzman Scholars aspires to create a global network of leaders who will shape the future.

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