Student Leader Spotlight: Hongyi Zou MPA ’24

Hongyi Zou, copresident of the Greater China Initiative, hails from Beijing, China. He is currently pursuing an MPA degree in International Finance and Economic Policy with a specialization on Data Analysis and Quantitative Analysis at the Columbia SIPA. He is the inaugural United Nations Millennium Fellow from Mainland China and has served as the research assistant at Harvard University and as a cofounder of the World Development Forum. His ambition at Columbia is to establish a more inclusive multilateral dialogue platform led by youth, aiming to bridge cultural gaps in the international community and break down cultural barriers shaped by stereotypes and cultural bias. Recently, he was nominated and selected as 2024 UN ECOSOC Youth Delegate.

Advice to SIPA students: "Enthusiastically embrace the unparalleled wealth of resources offered by SIPA, spanning academia, professional development, and mental well-being. Moreover, SIPA undeniably stands as one of Columbia University's most diverse communities. Hence, I envision students from diverse cultural backgrounds engaging in more intercultural communications, where they listen to varied viewpoints and, amidst these interactions, cultivate exquisite friendships and acquire profound insights."

SIPA Campus Involvement/Leadership Position(s):
President of Greater China Initiative (GCI)
President of 2024 World Development Forum

Degree: MPA 
Concentration:  International Finance and Economic Policy
Specialization: Data Analysis and Quantitative Analysis