ESF Alumna Named Schwarzman Scholar

12/08/2017

An alumna of the College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) has been named a Schwarzman Scholar in the master's degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Elizabeth Maio, '13, graduated ESF magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in environmental resources engineering. She is currently a water and wastewater engineer at O'Brien & Gere designing water treatment systems to provide clean water and sanitation to communities across the Northeast. She has been a leader for new municipal wastewater disinfection technologies working with equipment manufacturers and regulators to evaluate and pilot-test new technologies. Maio is an active member of the Water Environment Federation, leading talks in her field on water and wastewater treatment. She co-developed a professionals network for environmental professionals and has led talks on effective communication and career development.

As a Schwarzman Scholar, Maio hopes to gain an understanding of how China regulates and manages its water resources and apply these technologies and methodologies globally to improve water quality.

This is the third class of Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University. Maio is one of 142 scholars selected from more than 4,000 applicants. The class of 2019 comprises students from 39 countries and 97 universities, with 41 percent from the United States, 20 percent from China and 39 percent from the rest of the world. The class will enroll at Schwarzman College on the Tsinghua University campus in Beijing in August 2018.

Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, which was founded in 1902 to promote international understanding and peace, and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Blackstone Co-Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman contributed more than $100 million to the program and is leading a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $500 million to endow the program in perpetuity.

Scholars chosen for this highly selective program have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and their potential to bridge and understand cultural and political differences. They will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China.