On May 24, NYU Shanghai held its Senior Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding Class of 2025 students for their academic achievements, leadership capacity, and community service. This year, 126 graduates were awarded six categories of honor. Chancellor Tong Shijun, Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman, Provost Joanna Waley-Cohen, Deans, and faculty representatives from across the university attended the ceremony.
Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs Diane Geng gave opening remarks and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs John Robertson introduced the award criteria.
Provost Joanna Waley-Cohen presented the Provost’s Award to Huang Leqian ’25, a double major in Global China Studies and Social Science (Anthropology track), in recognition of her exceptional academic performance and community engagement. “In her studies, in her public service, in her community-building and in her leadership in particular in activities with significant social impact,” Provost Waley-Cohen said, “Leqian exemplifies the path of wide-ranging curiosity, intellectual rigor, dedication, and service to others, that we especially value at NYU Shanghai.”
Huang described her studies in anthropology as transformative. “It taught me to see humanity in all its diversity—to listen before judging, to question what seems obvious, and to stand with those whose stories go unheard,” she said. “These are lessons I will carry for life.”
The Deans from Arts and Sciences, Business, and Computer Science, Data Science, and Engineering recognized outstanding students with awards and honors. Major Honors were awarded to students who completed the designated honors sequence in their major and maintained a requisite grade point average. The Dean’s Award was awarded to graduates for excellence in academic and noteworthy contributions to the life of the campus.
Dean David Atwill presented the Dean’s Award in Arts and Sciences to Wu Shuli ’25 and Deziree Joy Harmon ’25. Atwill praised Wu’s intellectual curiosity, insight, and academic passion in gender studies, noting that “the strong humanities and focus on individualized learning at the heart of NYU Shanghai allowed her to follow her own intellectual pathways.” He described Harmon, who studied Interactive Media Arts and Business, as having an “entrepreneurial spirit” and embodying “a new generation of globally minded leaders.”
Dean Chen Yuxin presented the Dean’s Award in Business to Liu Xinyu ’25 for his outstanding academic performance, leadership capacity, multidisciplinary growth, saying that “his journey exemplifies both the opportunities at NYU Shanghai and the essence of our educational mission: to equip students to reach their full potential and turn their aspirations into reality.
Interim Dean Nasir Memon presented the Dean’s Award in Computer Science, Data Science, and Engineering to Yao Yuncheng ’25, highlighting his “rare blend of intellectual rigor, innovation, and humility that defines the very best of NYU Shanghai.” Memon described him as “not only a brilliant researcher but also a thoughtful collaborator, critical thinker, and rising star in the field.”
High achieving students who stood out in NYU Shanghai’s highly competitive academic environment were also honored at the ceremony. Presented by John Robertson, Yin Kaiwen ’25 was awarded the Global Leadership Certificate, an honor awarded to students who complete study away, language study, service work, and written reflection. The NYU Shanghai Excellence Award was awarded to the top 20 percent of graduates based on the cumulative grade point average through seven semesters of coursework.
Following the practice at NYU in New York, Latin Honors, including summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude, were awarded to NYU Shanghai students based on the cumulative grade point average through seven semesters of coursework.
Finally, at the close of the ceremony, Diane Geng presented Provost Waley-Cohen with a framed photo collage featuring past Provost’s Awardees to commemorate her dedication over the past years.
Congratulations to all the awardees from the Class of 2025 for their remarkable achievements.