Student Profile, Zhen Zeng, IPAL’23, MPP Class of 2026

“I remember visiting the impoverished Western Hunan area as a child,” said Zhen Zeng, IPAL’23 and MPP Class of 2026, “and I think that definitely inspired my passion for rural development.”

Zeng had the opportunity to explore this passion while earning his bachelor of management in public utilities at North China Electric Power University. “In my freshman year, I founded Yiqi Peer, a platform to enrich the art education of rural students. I even went to a primary school in Henan province to teach dance lessons. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and made me feel I was on the right path.”

Zeng's academic journey took a pivotal turn during an exchange program at the University of Malaya. “I had the opportunity to explore political science and public administration, and that exposed me to the world of social policy. Researching topics such as gender and education equality between urban and rural areas also expanded my passion to promote rural development on a global scale.”

Internships also played a crucial role in Zeng's professional development—most notably, he said, one at the China Philanthropy Research Institute, which focuses on public welfare development throughout the country. “That experience challenged my initial belief that philanthropy alone could address global rural challenges—and that led me to the field of impact investing.” Subsequent internships at the China Rural Development Foundation and the Beijing Leping Social Entrepreneur Foundation, Zeng added, shed light on ways to assess and invest in initiatives aimed at rural revitalization.

“My internship and undergraduate experiences helped me chart my path from social enterprise to charity to philanthropy to impact investment. Once I found impact investing, I realized I needed to strengthen my foundations in economics and data analysis to better navigate the field of impact investing.”

The PKU-UChicago International Policy Action Lab (PKU-IPAL), he said, offered the tools and perspectives he needed. "The program was transformative. The courses in applied econometrics and coding enhanced my analytical capabilities, and the lectures provided invaluable insights into the intricate relationship between policy, politics, and the economy.” The capstone project, he said, underscored the importance of interpersonal communication and teamwork in addressing complex policy challenges. “My peers participated enthusiastically, asked questions, and offered insights based on their experiences: we learned a lot from one other.”

Zeng said his PKU-IPAL experience also signaled to him that The University of Chicago Harris Public Policy was the best next step for him. “The Master of Public Policy at Harris is the ideal forge for me to hone my abilities to delve deeper into impact investing and eventually initiate incentives for social enterprises to invigorate rural revitalization.”

After his PKU-IPAL experience, Zeng went on to complete an internship with Impact Hub Shenzhen. “I was inspired by their work, which focuses on creating social and commercial value. For example, one project helped train rural women suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta—a genetic bone disorder—weaving skills and techniques so they could safely manufacture products including victory bouquets for the Beijing Winter Olympics.”

Reflecting on his path from rural education to global impact investing, Zeng said he is excited to further his commitment to effecting social change at Harris. "I'm looking forward to all the University of Chicago has to offer.”