Zhicheng (Charlie) Wang (SFS’22), a technology policy researcher, Schwarzman Scholar, and alumni, has been awarded the 2024 Rhodes Scholarship, making him the second Hoya to do so this year.
Wang joins Thomas Batterman (C’22), an alumnus who works at the Department of Justice investigating war crimes, as the 2024 Rhodes Scholars. This is the second year in a row that two Hoyas have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship.
Wang is one of four Rhodes Scholars in China, and Batterman is one of 32 Rhodes Scholars in the United States. They join more than 30 other Georgetown students and alumni who have previously earned the scholarship, including last year’s two honorees, Atharv Gupta (SFS’23) and Isabella Turilli (SFS’22), as well as former President Bill Clinton (SFS’68).
The scholarship selects promising young people from throughout the world who exhibit integrity, leadership, character, intellect, and a dedication to service to study at Oxford.
“It is terrific to have this opportunity to recognize Charlie for his contributions. On behalf of our community, I offer my most sincere congratulations on this remarkable achievement,” says Georgetown President John J. DeGioia. “Charlie has demonstrated a deep commitment to excellence and has brought new and creative thinking to the challenge of how we understand and respond to emerging technologies in our world. We look forward to the impact he will have on our global community.”
At Oxford, Wang will pursue his Ph.D. in information, communication and the social sciences at its Internet Institute.
“I was with my mother when I received the video call from Rhodes China’s National Secretary. This moment made me reflect on the supportive role my parents have played, guiding and encouraging me in applying for this scholarship. It also brought to mind Lauren [Tuckley’s] and the entire Center for Research and Fellowships’ invaluable mentorship, which has been crucial in solidifying my research interests and clarifying my career goals over the past few years,” Wang said. “I would like to dedicate this scholarship to these mentors and to the marginalized sectors of society who have been adversely impacted by the technological revolution.”
Wang intends to use the scholarship to pursue a career in technology policy, an interest he had in high school.
Wang, who was born in China, went to high school in New Zealand. In one of his high school’s programming class projects, he created a computer application that employs artificial intelligence (AI) to help persons with autism improve their communication abilities.
He studied international economics at Georgetown, with a concentration on technology policy. Wang pursued internships, seminars, and research opportunities in order to have a better understanding of the profession.
In the run-up to the 2020 elections in the United States, he worked as a political advertising fellow at Google, analyzing data on voting patterns and demographics. He investigated the impact of Google advertising methods on election outcomes in the 2020 Democratic primary elections as a research scholar at Georgetown’s Massive Data Institute. He also studied AI technologies, the US-China trade war, and data governance rules at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging technologies.Wang also did research as part of the Kalorama Fellowship and the Lisa J. Raines Fellowship, both of which were funded by the Center for Research and Fellowships.
Wang’s research and internships provided him with a deeper grasp of US technology policy, but he wanted to learn more about the Chinese perspective.
