Senior Eli Leadham Wins Prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship
Story by Erin Marlow, Communications Specialist in the Office of the Dean of the College; Video produced by Ryan Broussard, Graduate Assistant in the Office of the Dean of the College.
When Eli Leadham’s grandmother was an infant, she became one of the few members of her family to survive the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Eighty years later, her grandchild has been named a Schwarzman Scholar, one of just 150 students worldwide to pursue a fully-funded master’s program in global affairs at Tsinghua University. A sociology major from Portland, Oregon, Leadham plans to spend the year abroad advocating for transitional justice and human rights on a global scale.
Located on the Schwarzman College campus of Tsinghua University in Beijing, the program prepares a cohort of international scholars to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century. Leadham says that the program’s focus on China’s role in global governance will deepen their understanding of international law and prepare them for a future in humanitarian public service.
“I became passionate about humanitarian concerns and transitional justice largely as a result of my background,” Leadham said, noting their Japanese heritage and American upbringing.
“The Scholarship will allow me to transform my interest into real advocacy, and I want to do my part to ensure my family’s stories are never forgotten.”
Eli Leadham (’26)
As a 2024 Richter Scholar, Leadham spent their junior year in Osaka, Japan, where their research and community work in criminal justice reform laid the foundation for their upcoming studies at Schwarzman College. In Japan, Leadham collaborated with Nihon Hidankyo, the organization of atomic bomb survivors that won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. The experience was “eye-opening,” Leadham said, and sparked their commitment to advocating on behalf of individuals who, like Leadham’s grandmother, are victims of war.
“We are so proud of Eli’s ability to take the same skills that we see in debate and apply them to real-world advocacy,” said Jarrod Atchison, John Kevin Medica Director of Debate and Professor of Communication. “The Schwarzman recognizes Eli’s potential to make a meaningful difference in the world.”
Leadham credits the Wake Forest Scholars Office for supporting them throughout the Schwarzman application, from brainstorming personal statement topics to preparing for the interview in November. The Scholars Office has been “instrumental in guiding me through every step in the process,” Leadham said. Leadham is also a Wake Forest Presidential Scholar in Debate, a Carswell-Mullen Scholar, and was named a 2025 Truman Scholar by one of the most competitive national scholarship programs for juniors in the country.
“The Schwarzman Scholarship knows that we need change agents who build both bridges and capacity — individuals who have the full range of talents to shift our world and bring along others to help carry change forward,” said Jackie Sheridan, Director of the Wake Forest Scholars Program. “Eli has already demonstrated their ability to do that on our campus, where they’ve been wise about building successful programs, embedding them in structures that will exist after they graduate, and empowering younger students to take on leadership roles. Wake Forest has been changed for the good because of their efforts.”
Now in their senior year, Leadham continues their advocacy work on campus through leadership roles that center student voices and wellbeing. Leadham is a Student Conduct Advisor in the Office of the Dean of Students, a President’s Aide, and the Inaugural Interpersonal Violence Prevention Student Assistant in the Office of Wellbeing.
“The Schwarzman Scholarship really is an affirmation that public service, in some way, shape, or form, is the right path for me. But more than just a title, being a Schwarzman Scholar means I am now part of a unique tapestry of change-makers across various fields,” Leadham said. “The other scholars and I are already brainstorming ways we can work together before the experience has even begun.”
Students who are interested in applying to the Schwarzman Scholarship and other competitive opportunities are invited to visit the Wake Forest University Scholars Office and make an appointment to meet with the Scholars Program team.
