Jonathan Eaton ’24 has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar. Created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century and designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, the Schwarzman Scholarship is a one-year, fully funded master’s degree program in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China. Eaton is the first to receive this award from Colgate University.
Eaton, an international relations and Asian studies double major from Bethel, Conn., plans to practice national security and international trade law, primarily sanctions and export controls, in the public and private sectors before eventually turning to academia. He sees the Schwarzman year in Beijing as a critical step in that path.
“A full year in China will help me understand the regional business structures, government regulations, and compliance philosophies that I will interact with as an attorney,” Eaton said, “as well as the forces which underpin their creation or change.”
Since graduating, Eaton has been working at Steptoe LLP in Washington, D.C., as a pre-law fellow, gaining firsthand exposure to the legal and policy environments with which he hopes to engage long term.
At Colgate, Eaton’s interest in the region deepened through his coursework and a formative study abroad experience. As a Gilman Scholar, he studied abroad in Taiwan, where he immersed himself in Chinese language and culture, reinforcing both his academic focus and his desire to work at the intersection of law, global affairs, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Outside of the classroom, Eaton was highly involved in campus leadership serving as president of the Student Government Association and as an Alumni Memorial Scholar, a Lampert Scholar, and Presidential Ambassador. He was also the recipient of the Colgate Alumni Corporation 1819 Award, given each year to the graduating senior whose character, scholarship, and service to others best exemplify the spirit of Colgate.
Initially drawn to Schwarzman for its emphasis on China and leadership development, Eaton was also attracted by the program’s flexibility and interdisciplinary approach. He looks forward to learning alongside students from across the world and applying his academic training in a global context, while continuing to deepen his Chinese language skills.
“The Schwarzman program will help develop my leadership skills so that I can ‘meet the moment,’” Eaton said, “regardless of what that moment will be.”
To learn more about the Schwarzman Scholarship, Gilman Scholarship, or other national competitive awards, reach out to Meghan Niedt, mniedt@colgate.edu, in the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships to schedule an appointment.