UAPB Alum Joins Global Network of Schwarzman Scholars in China

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Leon Jones III, a 2022 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), has been selected for the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2025-2026. The Fayetteville, AR native is one of 150 Scholars representing 38 countries and 105 universities from around the world who will receive the opportunity to attend a one-year, fully funded master’s degree program in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. He is the third Schwarzman Scholar from an Arkansas university. The program begins in August 2025. Schwarzman Scholars, one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship programs, announced its milestone tenth cohort of admitted students from a global community in a press release on Wednesday.

Jones says that the power of mentorship and networking opened the door for him to learn about the program. He discovered it while assisting his uncle, Chris Jones, during his candidacy for Arkansas governor. One of his fraternity brothers, whom he met during the campaign, told him about it and encouraged him to apply because he was “more than qualified.”
“I thought that it never hurts to throw your hat in the ring and try. Essentially, I put myself out there and prove to the folks at the program that I have a reason for being here and that I deserve to be here. And it all worked out in my favor,” Jones shared.

This year, Schwarzman Scholars received the highest number of applications in its ten-year history, with the Class of 2025-2026 selected from a pool of nearly 5,000 candidates worldwide. The selection process is highly competitive, involving multiple rounds of review and interviews to identify the most promising future leaders, as stated in the press release.

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“Our tenth cohort fills me with optimism for the future,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Founding Trustee of Schwarzman Scholars. “This year’s selected Scholars are keenly interested in learning about China and broadening their understanding of global affairs, which are both now more important than ever. Our network, now ten classes strong, is already starting to make a global impact, and I am proud of our program’s continued success. I look forward to watching this inspiring community continue to grow.”

Jones shared that he is both excited and a bit nervous about being on another continent and hemisphere. He said this would be much different from a summer trip abroad, where he would be away for two or three months and return to school.

“And I will say that with a program like this, it can be a little bit scary, right? Going to China for ten months will be the longest I’ve ever been away from home without having breaks. In school, you go back home for breaks,” Jones said.

“There’s a lot that goes into being mentally prepared to say that I am ready to go to China. I never saw myself saying that I am going to go live in China. Now, I am preparing to go to China. It becomes more and more real by the day. It’s definitely a leap of faith, and I am happy that I have family to support me throughout it all and encourage me to take opportunities like this,” Jones said.

According to the press release, the Scholars will engage in a graduate curriculum focused on leadership, global affairs, and China. The students are taught by leading faculty from Tsinghua University as well as from many globally recognized international universities and attend lectures delivered by global thought leaders. Scholars gain unique exposure to China through mentoring, internships, and experiential learning. Additionally, career development is provided to help Scholars excel in various fields upon graduation.

While at UAPB, Jones served as president of the Student Government Association (SGA) from 2021 to 2022 and founded the Freshman Leadership Academy. He is part of a UAPB legacy as a third-generation graduate. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a concentration in Political Science and a Communications minor from UAPB. His grandparents on both sides of his family – Pastor Leon Jones Sr., Mrs. Beverly Jones, Bishop Chester Thompson, and Mrs. Bobbie Thompson – graduated from UAPB (formerly Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal (AM&N) College). His parents, Leon Jones, Jr. and Dr. Shawndra Washington, also graduated from UAPB.

In 2024, Jones received a master’s degree in media advocacy from Northeastern University. While at Northeastern, he spent a summer in Washington, D.C. as an intern for Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock. Passionate about historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Jones is dedicated to advocating for policies that uplift these institutions.

Currently based in Boston, MA, Jones serves as a member of the political team for Attorney General Andrea Campbell. His responsibilities include handling media relations, organizing interviews, writing speeches, creating talking points, helping with trips, and traveling to share political messages. As part of the team, he contributes to various aspects of political communication and strategy. “The job changes day to day but that’s anything that you could think of in the political communications realm is pretty much what I do,” Jones said.

He says that he enjoys fitness in his spare time and is working out more. He also considers himself to be a foodie. “I really love to eat. Living in Boston, there are a lot of amazing restaurants to try. One of my favorite things to do with my friends is to pick a new place and try out the food, see what it’s like, and try new cuisine,” Jones says.

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He has a message for students who want to pursue similar opportunities, such as the Schwarzman Scholars program.
“Go for it because you never know what can happen. You’re qualified to be here. You shouldn’t let anyone or anything make you feel otherwise. Don’t be afraid to go for your wildest dreams. Shoot for the moon. You might grab some stars along the way,” Jones says.