Scholars – Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation

Meet the 2017-2018 Lohez Foundation Scholarship Recipients

jl911 News, Scholars December 19, 2017May 2, 2018

Haicheng Wang
(Sciences Po / Fudan University)

“My curiosity for new arenas always leads to discovering various experiences, identities and responsibilities, during which I enjoy collisions in thoughts and exploration of diverse cultural values,” reflected Lohez 2017-18 Scholar Haicheng Wang, a student of the dual-degree master’s program between Sciences Po and Fudan University.

Between 2012 and 2016, Haicheng studied international politics in Fudan University. Inspired by a comparative perspective of European studies and Chinese diplomacy, he then chose to pursue the master’s program between Sciences Po and Fudan with one year each in France and China.

Not only has Haicheng held various student leadership positions, but he has completed prestigious internships as well. He went to Yale University for exchange during his undergraduate studies. He led the department serving international students in the student union of Fudan University. In addition, Haicheng completed an internship at the American Chamber of Commerce, where he worked in asset management. He also worked in risk consultancy as he interned at the European Council on Foreign Relations, a pan-European think tank. Haicheng’s desire to help others led him to visit Cambodia in order to volunteer in a local community. While his past explorations aided him in learning and adapting to new cultures, Haicheng’s current endeavors continue to shape his values and his journey to self-discovery. Reflecting on his studies in Paris, he noted that the experience surpassed his expectations. Haicheng observes, “The program offered me an excellent opportunity to explore Europe as a foreigner and rediscover my homeland of China. Learning about the people of other cultures encourages dialogue and mutual understanding.”

Riccardo Cersosimo
(Sciences Po / Fudan University)

Between 2011 and 2014, Riccardo Cersosimo of Italy studied International Business Administration at Tilburg University (School of Economics and Management) in the Netherlands, as well as at Peking University (Guanghua School of Management), Beijing. After graduating with distinction, he devoted a year to learning Mandarin Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, on a scholarship granted by the Chinese Government. Recalling his experience in Beijing, Riccardo notes that he “nurtured his passion for languages and discovered how the world of communication is changing through the digitalization of the society, particularly in the Chinese context.”

Aspiring to discover a new culture and language while maintaining his bond with China, Riccardo entered the Dual Degree program at the School of Management and Innovation at Sciences Po in France and the School of Journalism at Fudan University in China, from which he will graduate in June 2018. Between the first and second years of his master’s program, Riccardo took another gap year to gain some valuable work experience through two internships. After winning the Sciences Po edition of the Brandstorm competition organized by the L’Oréal Group, Riccardo interned for the Marketing Development department of Lancôme (L’Oréal). He also completed an internship at the Digital Communications department of Guerlain (LVMH).

Riccardo notes, “Through both my first and second internships, I have had the chance to apply the theoretical knowledge stemming from both my undergraduate and graduate studies to a fascinating, dynamic and creative industry.”

He currently serves as one of the 15 Italian citizens holding the Chinese Government Scholarship for the Academic Year 2017-2018. Aside from attending classes at Fudan University, he interns at the Chinese branch of Guerlain.

Ricardo reflects, “Pursuing my academic achievements and eye-opening work experiences abroad in both China and Europe have equipped me with the adaptability and global vision necessary to tackle the globalized world and immerse myself in new opportunities where my creative strengths can align with my ambition to make an impact on the marketing and communication industry.”

Yi Da Jeremy Ng
(Sciences Po / Columbia University)

Lohez scholar Yi Da Jeremy Ng from Singapore currently studies in the Dual BA Program between Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris (Campus du Havre).

“College, for me, served as a time to explore new interests,” reflects Jeremy. “Having studied politics and social sciences at Sciences Po, I decided to take a more quantitative approach to my studies at Columbia, and am now majoring in information science.”

His desire to chart new waters also led Jeremy to undertake internships in France, China, Singapore, Tajikistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, working in sectors such as finance and international development. As a result of his work experience, he developed a strong desire to leverage private capital to finance projects in the developing world, particularly in under-served areas such as Central Asia.

“My career goals are definitely a function of my previous internship experiences,” observes Jeremy. “I spent a summer working for the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia in Tajikistan, where I helped to design and implement social protection and civil society projects. This was really meaningful work, as I could see from site visits how our projects had improved the lives of vulnerable communities such as people living with HIV, or victims of gender-based violence.”

Jeremy, however, remains keenly aware of the challenges faced by development agencies today. “One problem we kept encountering in Tajikistan was the lack of funding from governments and international donors. This is where my experience in the private sector proved enlightening. My internship at Bridgewater Associates showed me the immense potential of private capital, which I hope to ultimately deploy to more socially beneficial ends.”

Côme Lefébure
(Sciences Po / Columbia University)

Côme Lefébure believes that solving conflicts requires an understanding of others. His experiences in China, France, and the United States fostered his belief concerning the necessity of tolerance. His desire to become a peace-maker of tomorrow brought him first to Sciences Po’s Europe-Asia campus in Le Havre and now to Columbia University.

At Sciences Po, he served as the treasurer of the Sports club. In addition, he became the captain of both the soccer team and the swimming team. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Côme aspires to serve at France’s Foreign Affairs and work with China, a country where he spent his childhood and accomplished his first professional internships.

Côme’s attributes his status as a global citizen to his French and Italian heritage. As a global citizen, Côme feels empowered by cooperation amongst diverse people groups. He believes in the power of cultural and educational exchanges for shaping a peaceful world. Moreover, he feels honored to join the Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Foundation and its cohort of inspiring ambassadors from all over the world. Côme strives to promote dialogue and joint actions across France, China, and the United States.

Raphael Presberg
(EPITA / Stevens Institute of Technology)

After two years of intensive training in physics and mathematics, Raphael completed two years of multidisciplinary engineering formation in computer science, energy and systems, signal and networks, and electronics. He then completed one year of specialization in computer science engineering & Big Data. Raphael has applied to the Masters of Science in Information System at Stevens Institute of Technology to fulfill his interest in both the technological and strategic aspects of data analysis and data science.

After his first international experience in Tel Aviv University, where he studied 6 months for a spring semester in electrical engineering, he sought a new opportunity abroad in New York. Concerning his move to New York, Raphael explained that he desired “to discover the American way of life, visit the wonderful city and live new experiences.” Moreover, he strives to improve his English and attain his C2 level goal.

Last summer, he worked as a data analyst at Schneider Electric. Upon completion of his Masters of Science at Stevens, he will seek new opportunities in data analysis and data science in American technology companies to develop his technical skills in an optimal environment.

Pierre Savary: Scholar-Communicator with a Diplomatic Edge

jl911 Alumni Updates, Bio, News, Scholars September 6, 2016March 24, 2020

“To me, America is in essence the land of willpower,” said Pierre Savary, a 2015-2016 Lohez Foundation Scholar. “This is made visible by symbols such as the Freedom Tower, built in the aftermath of the biggest terrorist attack in US history, where the Twin Towers once represented New York, and it is now the highest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.”

During his undergraduate years at Sciences Po in Paris, Pierre had already had the opportunity to study in the United States, spending a year abroad at the University of California-Berkeley. There he studied in the Departments of Religious Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies. “I went to UC Berkeley and studied in SIPA’s International Security Concentration,” he said, “to learn more about terrorism from an academic perspective and understand better why some people of my age, sometimes even younger than me, choose the path to violence. In France I got involved in interfaith dialogue activities as a way to promote French society’s cohesion.”

At UC Berkeley, Pierre also discovered California’s culture of creativity and entrepreneurship, where hard work combined to enthusiasm and a vision for the future makes everything possible. “In California I witnessed a sense of faith in the future that today’s Western societies often lack. I understood that fighting extremism is useless without an alternative vision for the world we want to live in, a vision that appeals to all and everyone.”

While completing his dual degree in International Security at Columbia University, Pierre served as an intern at the Consulate General of France in New York City. There, he drafted speeches and other official communications for Consul General Bertrand Lortholary and other diplomatic personnel. It was a position that afforded him special insight into the workings of a diplomatic outpost immersed in the day-to-day issues of foreign relations.

After graduation, Pierre spent several weeks training in a military camp in Southern France to become a Reserve soldier in the French Army. “As a reserve soldier,” he said, “I will protect tourism sites, but also religious places: churches, synagogues, and mosques.”

Pierre describes himself as very attached to the French concept of laïcité, which ensures that the State treats fairly and equally protects all citizens regardless of their beliefs and religion, and opposes the politicization of religious identities. To him, laïcité is a necessary component of the Republican ideal that he wishes to serve through his professional life. “Promoting French society’s unity”, he said, “implies tackling the spread of all perilous ideologies and communitarianism, as well as the rampant inequalities that weaken our social fabric. Social justice is another major component of the Republican and French ideals I believe in.”

Pierre also worked for a while at the French Embassy in Amman, Jordan. Back in Paris, his path also led him briefly to the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

In 2019, Pierre was accepted to the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, a grand school training future senior civil servants, which churned out presidents, ambassadors and industry leaders for decades.

Hélène Franchineau: International Multimedia Journalist without Borders

jl911 Alumni Updates, Scholars February 5, 2016February 11, 2016

A 2010 recipient of the Lohez 9/11 Foundation Scholarship, Hélène Franchineau is currently living an extraordinary life as a French journalist working in China. As part of her journey from Paris to Beijing, Hélène started learning Chinese at 15 years old, and after traveling to China alone at the age of 16, she knew that she wanted to work and live there one day.

While living in Shanghai in 2007, Hélène met a correspondent for the French newspaper Le Monde, and she found that journalism was a beautiful fit for her, both in terms of her love of storytelling and her gift for photography.

Hélène then worked for Le Monde and Slate in Shanghai and Paris. She wrote news on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2009 Muslim minority riots in Xinjiang province, and the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. In 2009 Hélène interned at The Washington Times foreign desk, where she covered policies on climate change.

Hélène completed her Master’s in International Affairs and Chinese Language and Culture at Sciences Po Bordeaux in 2006, joined the journalism program at Sciences Po Paris in 2008, and eventually enrolled in the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2010. She currently finds herself working as the video and multimedia journalist for the Associated Press in Beijing.

Hélène believes that it takes a combination of many skills to take on the career that she has chosen. These include an early exposure to different cultures, learning new languages and keeping an open mind. Such skills come in handy when faced with more challenging assignments, the most challenging being breaking news assignments. Hélène finds breaking news to be the hardest to tackle, because it often requires her to travel to remote places at the last minute in unpredictable weather and uncomfortable conditions. And the Chinese authorities can always find ways to make things difficult for her.

However, the most challenging assignments oftentimes turn out to be the most satisfying.

Hélène says that her most rewarding journalism assignment involved following two Chinese migrant workers in 2013, during their journey home to the Henan province for the Chinese New Year. The migrants hadn’t been home in a year, leaving their young son behind with his grandparents, a “common phenomenon” in Chinese culture, according to Hélène. She found this story to be challenging, because it was the first assignment that she worked on completely alone; she did the research, logistics, filming and editing.

However, it was well worth the hard work.

“It was rewarding on so many levels,” Hélène says. “The fact that I learned I can do a complete multimedia story on my own; that I got so close to this family and immersed myself into their life; and seeing their happy faces, when, a few months later, I showed the couple the finished video and the newspaper article that were published in the South China Morning Post – it was priceless.”

Hélène foresees her next challenge to be broadening the subject matter of her work, including moving beyond the “China Story.” She sees her focus shifting more toward Europe and the Middle East, concentrating on “migrants, and the challenge they pose to Europe in terms of identity and integration.”

However, she will never fully let go of her work in China. “It is a combination of past experiences that have made me into what I am today, a foreign video journalist covering China,”Hélène explains. “But maybe tomorrow I’ll be gone somewhere else, and I’ll take the treasure trove of experiences I got in China, and use them in my next job.”

– Julie Roccanova, Tranquility49 PR

Videos and Media

VIDEO: Lohez 9/11 Scholars Speak!

jl911 News, Scholars September 9, 2015September 10, 2015

Please enjoy the remarks of these three remarkably talented young scholars, as delivered at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation, 14 May 2015. And as you listen to the words of these future leaders, please consider making your most generous donation to help continue the work of the Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation. Thank you!

Lohez 10th Anniversary Celebrated with Music, Gourmet Cuisine and Heartfelt Remarks from VIPs

jl911 Annual Gala, News, Scholars June 1, 2015July 26, 2015

On the evening of May 14, 2015, the Jérome Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation staged its 10th Anniversary Celebration and Scholarship Award Presentation in the Rose Salon at the French Consulate in New York City.

Arriving guests were greeted by the late afternoon sun streaming through the Rose Salon’s curtained windows, with the tall trees and greenery of Central Park illuminated opposite the Consulate. The popular sounds of Carla Virola and the Carla V. Band served as a musical bed throughout the early meet-and-greet, featuring cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres, which accommodated the growing complement of attendees during the first hour.

Ms. Virola, an actress, singer and musician, who served as Emcee for the evening, called the crowd to order shortly before the opening remarks from the Consul General Deputy Mr. Bernard Faro, who noted the 10-year history of the Lohez Foundation and its long association with the officials of the French Consulate, past and present.

Ms. Virola then offered a welcome to all who had come to celebrate Foundation’s 10th Anniversary and the 2015 Scholarship Award Presentation.

“This is an exciting one-decade anniversary year for the Lohez Foundation,” she said. “Not only is the Foundation awarding scholarships to a new class of five international students. It is also actively recruiting and welcoming new members to its executive board of directors. In a few weeks, it will debut a terrific new tri-lingual website” created by Ms. Kelsey Holland of Tranquility49 PR.
Ms. Virola noted also that portions of the event were being videotaped, to be featured on the new website, and that announcements would be made in advance of the Foundation website’s go-live date.

Ms. Virola then introduced the “Founder of the Lohez Scholarship Foundation, a global citizen who is an educator in her own right, Ms. Dening Wu Lohez.”

Ms. Lohez spoke briefly but movingly of the work of the Foundation.

“In this year of 2015,” she said, “the Lohez Foundation finds itself confronted by new and expanding horizons. From a small scholarship foundation with a special mission, we have begun a steady transformation into a global educational exchange and charitable organization.

“As many of you know,” she continued, “the US and French authorities announced this past January their willingness to double by 2025 the number of student exchanges between their countries. At the same time, the exchange of students between France and China will increase to 50,000 students per year from 35,000.

She concluded: “This clearly is the opening of a new opportunity for the Lohez Foundation to partner with new institutions, to work with new young global leaders and to make a lasting difference in the interconnected world that we live in.”

Appropriately, the next speaker to the podium was the Director General of the École Pour l’Informatique et les Techniques Avancées, better known as EPITA, Dr. Joël Courtois, who had traveled from Paris to New York to attend the celebration. Jérome Lohez was himself the recipient of a dual-degree from EPITA and Stevens Institute of Technology, and the latter institution was the scene of the first meeting between Mr. Lohez and his future wife, Ms. Dening Wu.

Next Dr. Anne B. Waters presented to the 2015 Lohez Foundation Scholar Ms. Juliette Faure, who has pursued a dual degree between Sciences Po and Columbia University SIPA. Dr. Waters acted as a Lohez Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee Member for 2015, and had served until earlier this year as a senior associate dean of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs

Next, Mr. Antoine Desir presented to 2015 Lohez Scholar Ms. Barbara Crépeau, who has pursued a dual degree between EPITA and Stevens Institute of Technology. Mr. Desir is 2012 Lohez Scholar and a dual-degree graduate of Columbia University / École Polytéchnique. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Operational Research in the Columbia University Department of Mathematics.

This evening also featured a virtual guest from France. One the 2015 Lohez Scholars, Mr. Soliman Elcheikh, could not attend the evening in person, as he was completing his final exams at Sciences Po in Paris. “However,” said Ms. Virola, “he has provided us with taped remarks from what appears to be a very scenic location on the Mediterranean.”

Introducing Mr. Elcheikh’s remarks was Ms. Sibylle Eschapasse, who works as an employee of the United Nations and is a frequent contributor to Paris-NewYork.tv. She is also president of the Association of French International Civil Servants in New York.

Next at the podium was Mr. Kai Yang, proprietor of the Dejavu couturier in New York, who spoke briefly and presented three gift certificates to Ms. Lohez, who accepted on behalf of the Lohez Foundation. The gift certificates will be auctioned off via the Lohez Foundation Facebook to benefit the Foundation.

Ms. Virola then read a list of thank-yous that Ms. Lohez had provided, citing a number of guests and supporters, including:

Mr. Richard Ortoli, French Elected Representative for the Eastern US; Ms. Léa Futschik, Higher Education Attaché, Executive Director, Partner University Fund of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy; Mr. Allan Chapin, Chairman of French-American Foundation; Dr. Joël Courtois, Director of EPITA, Paris; Dean Michael Bruno, Schaefer School of Engineering & Science, Stevens Institute of Technology; Dean Gregory Prastacos, School of Business, Stevens Institute of Technology; Ms. Dawn da Silva and the Stevens Office of Development; Ms. Sharen Glennon, Associate Director, School of Business, Stevens Institute of Technology; and Mr. Patrick A. Berzinski, CEO, Tranquility49 PR

Ms. Lohez also extended special thanks to Ms. Sibylle Eschapasse and Ms. Karen Wang, who brought many guests to the evening’s event.

“As always,” Ms. Virola said in closing, “please consider making your most generous donation to the Lohez Foundation. Your donations allow the Foundation to continue the important work it does for emerging young leaders around the world, some of whom we have had the privilege to meet this evening.”

Once again this year, fine wines were donated to the occasion by Pernod-Ricard USA. Fine catering was provided by Diane Gordon Catering Services. Baked gourmet desserts were donated by Ms. Yu-chen Juang. Multimedia services were provided by Jason Guzman and Anastasiya Tarlikova of Tranquility49 PR, as well as by independent photographers Ms. Miao Hong and Mr. Te Wu.

Invaluable assistance on the part of the Consulate Events Staff was provided by Ms. Aurélie Cole and Ms. Claire Voisin, as well as Mr. Yann Yochum of the Press and Political Office.

Congratulations to 2011 Lohez Scholar Andres Lizcano Rodriguez!

jl911 Scholars January 20, 2015March 30, 2015

The Rural Mission is an initiative of the Colombian Government that is working to define the guidelines for rural development and agricultural policy for the next 20 years. As an adviser to Jose Antonio Ocampo, Andres is in charge of the Mission’s competitiveness strategy. The strategy encompasses a variety of themes, including macroeconomic policy, international trade, provision of public services (science and technology, roads, irrigation, electricity, etc.), credit, etc. Andres supports consultants in the preparation of strategy documents, participates in meetings with policymakers, stakeholders and other experts, and is helping to prepare the final documents of the Mission.

Lohez 2014 Awards Ceremony Held at Stevens Institute’s Babbio Center, May 1

jl911 Annual Gala, Scholars July 5, 2014November 8, 2021

The Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation celebrated its 2013-2014 Scholars with dinner, drinks, awards and a round of speeches and recognition, during a festive evening on May 1, 2014.

The event was held this year in the Lounge and Conference Area of the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management, located in the Lawrence T. Babbio Center on the Hoboken, N.J., campus of Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Babbio Center fourth-floor setting offered spectacular views of Manhattan, stretching from Midtown to the Downtown Financial District. The early part of the evening featured a magnificent Italian buffet dinner, provided by Stevens’ in-house caterers, Sodexo, who staffed the event with members of their outstanding food service team. French red and white wines were selected and delivered this year by Tranquility49 LLC, public relations advisers to the Foundation.

For a second year, the Master of Ceremonies role was filled by Professor Daniel Duchamp, Head of the Computer Science Department at Stevens, who introduced each of the scholars and their presenters in the Howe School Conference Room, backdropped prominently by the glittering Empire State Building.

Ms. Annabelle Libeau, France, who is receiving her Dual Degree from Sciences Po and Columbia University, was introduced by Mr. Stephane Bouniol (left), founding board member of the Foundation and Vice President at Credit Suisse in New York.

Ms. Elodie Nguyen (lower right), France, is receiving a Dual Degree from EPITA and Stevens Institute of Technology, Ms. Amy Wang (lower left), USA, who is receiving a Dual Degree from Sciences Po and Columbia Law School, was introduced by Ms. Dalia Shendi, a two-time Stevens alumna in Biomedical Engineering and a volunteer liaison for the Lohez Foundation.

All of the students spoke of having grown through their international exchange experiences, and described how these experiences are a fulfillment of the Lohez Foundation mission of building cultural bridges through a new generation of young global leaders.

Professor Duchamp mentioned the two scholars not able to attend: Mr. Jean-Sébastien Marre, France, receiving his Dual Degree from Sciences Po and Shanghai Fudan University; and Ms. Keli Wang, China, who is receiving her Dual Degree from Shanghai Fudan University and Sciences Po.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were the following guests:

Dr. Michael S. Bruno, Dean of the Schaefer School of Engineering & Science at Stevens.

Ms. Priscilla Barbier (bottom center photo, left), French Embassy University Partner Fund Program Coordinator, representing Dr. Camille Peretz, Attaché for University Cooperation for the French Embassy in the United States.

Ms. Dawn da Silva (bottom left photo, left), Assistant VP for Development at Stevens, who was accompanied by Mr. Ed Eichhorn, VP for Development at Stevens.

Professor Michael zur Muehlen (left, seated), Associate Dean of the Howe School of Technology Management.

Dr. Elizabeth Fassman-Beck, Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens.

Professor Anne Bynoe (bottom left photo, right), the Chair of the Economics Department at Pace University, and her assistant Mr. Peter Dachille (bottom center photo, right).

Ms. Sharen Glennon (bottom right photo), Associate Director at the Howe School.

Mr. Patrick A. Berzinski (bottom left photo, center), CEO, Tranquility49.

Professor Duchamp brought the formal part of ceremonies to a close with the following observations:

“The Lohez Foundation professes a vision focused on cultivating a class of young leaders with a truly global outlook,” he said. “The organization is looking to build its executive and advisory boards, its academic and corporate alliances, and to grow its modest endowment into a competitive resource for increased cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

“In coming days, the Foundation will debut its new online fund-raising home at CauseVox.com, as well as premiere one of several promotional videos that will be posted around the web, aimed at increasing awareness.“

Photos for the evening were captured by Mr. Te Wu, a former Visiting Professor at Stevens and a cousin of Foundation Chair Ms. Dening Wu Lohez.

The Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation 2014-2015 Scholars

jl911 Scholars February 12, 2014March 30, 2015

The Lohez Foundation is proud to announce its scholarship recipients for 2014-2015 – five outstanding young people who represent the current international “class” of Lohez Scholars. This stellar group includes our third set of scholars who will complete their joint studies between institutions located in both France and China.

Camille Andrieu, 2014
(France / Dual Master’s Degree, Sciences Po / Fudan University, Europe and Asia in Global Affairs)

Successful in athletic competition both in high school and as an undergraduate (training with Aix-en-Provence professional team and selection to the France women’s national group), Camille also pursued a dual degree in Political Science at the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) in Aix-en-Provence and Law at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.

In her first two years she achieved the status of valedictorian of her class of approximately 200 students. This ranking allowed her to choose to spend her third year of the IEP at the University of Michigan in the United States.

Now in her second year of the dual master’s degree program, “Europe and Asia in Global Affairs” between Sciences Po and Fudan University, Camille seizes the opportunity to investigate Asian issues and relationships between China and the European Union. She plans to use the Lohez Scholarship and the Chinese Government Scholarship to make the most of her academic year in Shanghai, as well as to attend the London School of Economics-Peking University 2015 Summer School, held in Beijing.

After a first experience of the diplomatic sphere with the National Model United Nations 2014 Project, Camille perceives the opening of a door to a career in the French Foreign Affairs sector in direct relation to China.

Barbara Crépeau, 2014
(France / Dual Master’s Degree, EPITA / Stevens Institute of Technology)

Barbara Crépeau is completing her final year of a French Master’s in Computer Science, specialized in RealTime and Embedded Systems, at EPITA. In 2015, she will be coming to Stevens Institute of Technology to pursue a dual-degree in Computer Science.

Barbara has dreamed since childhood of visiting the United States. She has long admired the American values of individual liberty, cultural tolerance, and egalitarianism.

While studying at Stevens, she looks forward to experiencing nearby New York City, with its real diversity of people and dynamic cultural and business environments.

“There are many startups [in New York],” says Barbara, “which means that people have the means to achieve their ideas and create businesses. Among many examples, New York saw the birth of Tumblr, Etsy, Kayak, Shutterstock – that almost everyone has now heard of. NYC startups show that the Silicon Valley does not have a monopoly when it comes to creating big companies.”

Barbara approaches her American experience as a new adventure, “a new start in a great country that will help me in the future by opening my mind further and giving me a chance to learn more and to be better prepared for what is going to come next.”

Soliman Elcheikh, 2014
(France / Dual Bachelor’s Degree, Columbia University / Sciences Po)

Soliman Elcheikh is a sophomore in the Dual Bachelor of Arts Program between Columbia University and Sciences Po. Throughout his education he has been exposed to diverse cultural traditions that have become integral facets of his personality.

Growing up in Egypt, Soliman went to a French school. At home, his mother initiated him to aspects of German culture – and today, he is immersed in the American experience while studying in the Dual Program with Columbia University.

Through his personal yet global experience, Soliman has learned important values, such as tolerance, listening to others and accepting diversity.

“I believe that all these principles and values are at the heart of the Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation,” says Soliman. “Promoting cultural and educational exchange is a powerful tool to change the face of the world. Personally, I would like to contribute to this change.”

Juliette Faure, 2014
(France / Dual Master’s Degree, Sciences Po / Columbia University)

As a student specialized in “Economic and Political Development,” Juliette Faure felt the need to be not merely a thinker but also an actor in international development, which led her to leave Paris to study in India.

Following her encounter with Jean Drèze, a prominent development economist, Juliette went to work with a governmental team in Jharkhand, one of India’s poorest states, on the evaluation of the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Thanks to the Hindi she had learned, she successfully collaborated with her team partners, who were all local people.

Feeling the need to combine her knowledge with new practical experience before heading to Columbia University, Juliette decided to take a gap year off to Myanmar where she has been working for the NGO “Green Lotus,” promoting sustainable development.

Ideally, Juliette would like to work on public policy advising to help countries design efficient development strategies. She looks forward to applying to a Ph.D. program in Political Science, in which her research would focus on the distinction between constitutional liberalism and democracy.

Paloma Moritz, 2014
(France / Dual Master’s Degree, Sciences Po / Fudan University)

Paloma Moritz considers herself a citizen of the world. During her life and academic path, she has always sought new challenges, the discovery of new cultures and different ways of learning, in order to reach a global understanding of our contemporary world. These ideals of international grasp and cooperation have always played a major role in her academic choices.

Having completed her undergraduate studies at Sciences Po and University of California-Santa Barbara, and then her first year of the Sciences Po Communication Master’s Program and her first months at the Fudan University School of Journalism, she is now convinced that she made the right choices. “My French-American-Chinese educational experience will undoubtedly be a great asset in the future,” says Paloma.

She describes her discovery of Chinese culture and society as an “everyday wonder,” and she hopes that her grasp of this “intriguing country” will give her a broader scope of understanding throughout her professional activities.

Her professional project is reflective of her desire to combine her creativity with her interest in media-related communication. Before moving to Shanghai, she spent a gap year working in French production companies investigating diverse stories, including international issues, and writing documentary synopses.

Notably, Paloma worked as a host, news editor and interviewer for a political program for Yahoo! News and Sciences Po TV, in which she interviewed numerous prominent French politicians, such as Jean-Louis Borloo, Jean Luc Mélenchon, Bruno Le Maire, Henri Guaino, Valérie Pécresse and Najat Vallaud Belkacem.

As an aspiring journalist, Paloma’s fervent desire is to gather and report the news; to explain the world to the widest audience in order to raise awareness about major contemporary issues; and, in the process, to strive to make a difference.

2015 Jérôme Lohez Scholarship Award Selection Committee

The Lohez Foundation wishes to thank the members of its 2014-2015 Scholarship Selection Committee for lending their time, talents and expertise to the process of identifying our new gifted scholarship recipients. Below is a list of the committee members and their brief bios.

Dean Michael zur Muehlen (Selection Committee Chairperson, Associate Dean & Professor, The Howe School, Stevens Institute of Technology)

Michael zur Muehlen is Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor of Information Systems at Stevens Institute of Technology. Dean zur Muehlen is responsible for academic oversight, development and growth of seven graduate programs in Stevens’ business school, totaling 900+ students. He directs the research Center for Business Process Innovation and founded the award-winning graduate program in Business Process Management & Service Innovation. Dean zur Muehlen’s focus is on helping organizations become more efficient, improve service quality, and manage risk and compliance in an effective manner. An accomplished expert in Business Process Management, Workflow, and Business Decision Management, he has consulted for many businesses and government agencies. Dean zur Muehlen holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems from Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.

Dean Anne Waters (Senior Associate Dean at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University)

Anne Waters serves as Senior Associate Dean at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University in the City of New York. She is the chief administrative officer for SIPA, which is the most global school of public policy, enrolling approximately 1,400 students across seven degree programs. Dean Waters’ portfolio includes responsibility for recruitment and admissions, graduate student affairs, finance and administration, information technology, career services, external relations, and alumni affairs. Dr. Waters works closely with the Dean of SIPA and senior university leadership on development, strategic planning, financial management, and global initiatives. She holds Ph.D. in History and Anthropology from the University of Michigan.

Professor Eleonora Russo (Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po, Paris)

Eleonora Russo is academic adviser of the Master European Affairs program at Sciences Po, Paris, and she is in charge of the Dual Degree program “Europe and Asia in Global Affairs” between SIRPA-Fudan and the Master in European Affairs, Sciences Po. She is concluding her Ph.D., with a focus on the fight against climate change in European Union law. For several years she has been a legal adviser for Italian and French law firms, assisting in particular Chinese clients investing in Italy. During the past three years, she has taught “Constitutional Foundations of the EU” and “Law of the Internal Market” for the Master in European Affairs program.

Professor Hong Bing (Associate Professor, Assistant to Dean School of Journalism, Fudan University, Shanghai)

Dr. Hong Bing, associate professor, received his Ph.D. in communication studies from School of Journalism, Fudan University. His research interests focuses on media sociology, international communication and China’s media reform. In 2007 he was the first Media Fellow sponsored by US. China Education Trust to be the visiting scholar in University of Maryland. He is now the director of Fudan-LSE Global Media and Communication and Fudan-Sciences Po Communication and Media double master’s degree program.

Professor Yitian Huang (Assistant Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University)

Yitian Huang is Assistant Professor, School of International Relations & Public Affairs, at Fudan University. Professor Huang holds a Ph.D. in International Environmental Policy, from the Center for Environmental Law and Policy, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University, in addition to a Master of Law (International Law), University of Cambridge. Dr. Huang’s research interests include environmental politics, global climate negotiation and international relations, and transnational private governance.

Mr. Stephane Bouniol (VP at Credit Suisse)

A founding board member and former Vice President of the Lohez Foundation, Stephane Bouniol is currently Vice President Managing the Java Application Platform for Credit Suisse Americas. His areas of specialty include web services architecture, production support experience (including trading floor support), team management, and project management, including large scale projects spread across the globe. His previous positions include Senior Unix System Administrator at DLJ and Unix Administrator at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Mr. Côme J. Dechery (Consultant Analyst at the Center for Conflict, Security and Development, The World Bank)

Mr. Côme Dechery is a young global leader in the making. A 2012-2013 Lohez Scholar, during the 2011 academic year at Sciences Po, Côme served as President of the Paris Globalist, Sciences Po’s magazine of international affairs. This was a distinct honor for a young man pursuing a dual Master of International Affairs degree, awarded in May 2013 by Sciences Po and the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). During his undergraduate years at Sciences Po, Côme had the opportunity to spend a year abroad at the University of California-San Diego, where he pursued a graduate-level course of study. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with his bachelor’s degree in May 2010. In September 2013, Côme was appointed a Consultant Analyst at the Center for Conflict, Security and Development at The World Bank.

Ms. Sharen Glennon (Associate Director, Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management, Stevens)

Sharen Glennon has more than 25 years of experience in marketing communications for nonprofit organizations, specializing in higher education programs at the graduate level. For the past dozen years she served as Assistant Director and then Associate Director of Marketing for the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management at Stevens Institute of Technology. Glennon has also acted as the Executive Coordinator of the Howe School Alliance for Technology Management. She holds a master’s degree in Management from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Mr. Patrick A. Berzinski (Committee Witness, Communications Consultant, Tranquility49 PR)

Patrick A. Berzinski serves the Lohez Foundation as communications consultant and media relations manager. From 2000 to 2010 his work was primarily in institutional communications for Stevens Institute of Technology, where he most recently served as Executive Director of University Communications. In 2010, he was appointed VP, Business Development, at Dash Media PR in New York City, where he later held the title of Senior Consultant. He is the founder and CEO of Tranquility49 LLC, a media promotion, media production and business-development consulting group.

Congratulations Lohez Laureate Annabelle Libeau!

jl911 Scholars February 12, 2014March 30, 2015

The Lohez Foundation wishes to congratulate our 2013-2014 laureate Annabelle Libeau on some great news: Annabelle has just moved to Washington, DC, where she has joined the MIGA Professionals Program (MPP) of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the World Bank Group (http://www.miga.org/index.cfm), where she is an Operations Analyst in the financial markets, agribusiness, and manufacturing and services industries. Her responsibilities include underwriting political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantee projects to investors and lenders in emerging markets worldwide.Best of luck Annabelle from everyone at the Lohez Foundation!

2013 Jérôme Lohez Scholarship Award Selection Committee

jl911 Scholars September 29, 2013March 30, 2015

The Lohez Foundation wishes to thank the members of its 2013-2014 Scholarship Selection Committee for lending their time, talents and expertise to the process of identifying our new gifted scholarship recipients. Below is a list of the committee members and their brief bios.

Professor Daniel Duchamp (Selection Committee Chairperson, Director, Computer Science Department, Stevens Institute of Technology)

Dr. Daniel Duchamp received the B.S.E. in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1982 and the Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University in 1988. He then joined Columbia University where he was an Assistant Professor then Associate Professor of Computer Science. In recognition of his groundbreaking work in mobile computing, in 1991 he was one of two computer scientists nationally named as a Young Investigator by the Office of Naval Research. In 1997, he joined AT&T Labs as a Principal Research Scientist. In 2000 he joined Stevens Institute of Technology as a Professor of Computer Science. In 2007 he was named Director of the Computer Science Department.

Professor Hong Bing (Associate Professor, Assistant to Dean School of Journalism, Fudan University, Shanghai)

Mr. Stephane Bouniol (VP at Credit Suisse)

Mr. Côme J. Dechery (Consultant Analyst at the Center for Conflict, Security and Development, The World Bank)

Mr. Côme Dechery is a young global leader in the making. A 2012 Lohez Scholar, during the 2011 academic year at Sciences Po, Côme served as President of the Paris Globalist, Sciences Po’s magazine of international affairs. This was a distinct honor for a young man pursuing a dual Master of International Affairs degree, awarded in May 2013 by Sciences Po and the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). During his undergraduate years at Sciences Po, Côme had the opportunity to spend a year abroad at the University of California-San Diego, where he pursued a graduate-level course of study. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with his bachelor’s degree in May 2010. In September 2013, Côme was appointed a Consultant Analyst at the Center for Conflict, Security and Development at The World Bank.

Ms. Sharen Glennon (Witness; Associate Director of Marketing, Wesley J Howe School of Technology Management, Stevens)

Professor Zhang Ji (Assistant Professor of Diplomacy at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University)

Dr. Zhang Ji is an Assistant Professor and a Research Fellow at Center for China-EU Relations, Center for Global Analysis and Center for Comparative Diplomacy Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai. He is the council member of Shanghai Institute for European Studies, reviewer of the Chinese Journal of European Studies, “Shanghai Pujiang Expert”. His research interests include the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy, French Foreign and Security Policy, China-EU relations, China’s Diplomacy, among other topics.

Professor Paul Rohmeyer (Director of the Master’s of Science in Information Systems program, Stevens Institute of Technology)

Dr. Paul Rohmeyer teaches graduate-level courses on Information Security Management and Network Management as a faculty member in the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management at Stevens. Paul has completed research in Information Security Management and Business Continuity Planning. He is also a senior-level consultant with expertise in IT Management, Project Management, Information Security, and IT Audit. Rohmeyer holds a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University, a MBA in Finance from St. Joseph’s University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Information Management from Stevens Institute of Technology. He has been trained by the U.S. National Security Agency on their Information Assurance Methodology (IAM) and holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential.

Ms. Dalia Shendi (Recording Officer; Liaison to Young Alumni, Stevens Institute of Technology)

Ms. Dalia Shendi serves the Lohez Foundation as Liaison to Young Alumni for Stevens Institute of Technology. She holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Stevens. Dalia has extensive experience working in biomedical research with organizations such as the United States Army, the Hackensack University Medical Center, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Since 2012, she has also served as a volunteer at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City.

Professor Imola Streho (Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po, Paris)

Dr. Imola Streho holds a doctorate in Law from the University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas) and LLM from the College of Europe. She is associated scholar at the Centre d’études européennes at Sciences Po, Paris, where she is co-directing the Master in European Affairs since the academic year 2008/2009. Her research focus on trade in services within the EU and particularly on the evolution of the EU set of rules on free movement of services. She is currently working on two projects related to services. She also works on the European Judicial System, more specifically on its role as a judicial model for other regional organizations and an active participant in the global judicial dialogue.

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Haicheng Wang (Sciences Po / Fudan University)

Riccardo Cersosimo (Sciences Po / Fudan University)

Yi Da Jeremy Ng (Sciences Po / Columbia University)

Côme Lefébure (Sciences Po / Columbia University)

Raphael Presberg (EPITA / Stevens Institute of Technology)