Davis Named Schwarzman Scholar

Newton Davis ’12 has been selected to pursue a master’s degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing as part of the highly selective Schwarzman Scholar program.

Now in its third year, the program funds a year of study and is designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders for the challenges of the future. Davis was among more than 4,000 applicants from around the world to compete for 142 spots. He hopes to connect with Chinese venture capitalists,
refine his investing skills and immerse himself in Chinese culture.

“China (and Asia more broadly) will be extremely important in venture capital in the coming years,” Davis says. “The industry will need to understand how China’s giants go about building their global empires. China’s political and economic rise go hand in hand.”

Davis works in investor education at 500 Startups, a global venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley. He is also a board member of Dream Outside the Box, a Fort Worth, Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding the horizons of youth in grades K-5.

At Williams, Davis majored in history and Arabic studies. He received a Harry S. Truman Scholarship, awarded to college juniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and are committed to careers in public service.