Tania Martinez was recently selected for a year-long master’s degree program in Beijing, China. She is the first in Rutgers–Camden history to earn the honor.provided
Tania Martinez was born and raised in Arkansas, but found a second home in Camden.
“I was able to connect with the community as well as being uplifted by the campus,” Martinez, 24, who graduated from Rutgers-Camden University three years ago and now is an assistant director of intergovernmental affairs for the New York City Department of Small Business Services, told NJ Advance Media.
Martinez credits Rutgers and Camden with helping to launch her career and for achieving a new milestone. She was recently selected for a year-long master’s degree program in Beijing, China. The 2025-26 Schwarzman Scholar program selected 150 students from 5,000 applicants in 38 countries. Martinez is the first in Rutgers–Camden history to earn the honor.
“I felt like it was time for me to pivot,” Martinez said. “It’s generally because of the state of the world. Right now, I think we’re in this extremely fragile time and it scares me. I think the cohort model of bringing together people from around the world, who have different interests. There’s so much to learn from one another.”
Schwarzman Scholars are selected for their leadership potential, intellect, and strength of character, Rutgers said in a statement. The program has nearly 1,300 alumni from 104 countries and 459 institutions worldwide.
This year’s 5,000-applicant class was the largest in the program’s history.
“I’m fortunate to have known Tania throughout her undergraduate years and to have witnessed her impact,” Laura Collins, founding director of the Office of Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising at Rutgers–Camden, said in a statement. “She has always demonstrated a clear vision of how she wants to effect change.”
Martinez said that vision of change was largely formed in Camden.
“I really want to see more Rutgers-Camden people apply for this program,” she said. “If it wasn’t for my peers, I would not have gotten through a program like this. I think the values of Rutgers-Camden help uplift the people who have historically been underrepresented.”
Martinez is a 2022 graduate Rutgers–Camden, where she was a triple major in political science, philosophy, and global studies. Her current job includes helping with migrant issues in New York City.
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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
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