Reflecting on College Research Experiences and Public Service: Chris Lu '88 Discusses Impactful Work
In the hallowed halls of Princeton University, two alumni, Chris Lu and CL, made their mark during their time at the Woodrow Wilson School (now known as the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, or SPIA). Both Chris and CL conducted significant research for their senior theses, which would go on to shape their professional careers.
Chris, who majored in the Woodrow Wilson School due to its interdisciplinary nature and junior-year policy task forces, began thinking about his thesis midway through his junior year. By the fall of his senior year, he had already conducted a substantial amount of the research. His thesis, titled "The Morning After: Press Coverage of Presidential Primaries, 1972-1984," focused on the rise of the modern primary system and the impact of press coverage on the public's understanding of winners and losers, as well as which primaries are important to win.
CL, who is also identified as the senior news editor at the Daily Princetonian, had already begun thinking about his thesis midway through his junior year as well. By the fall of his senior year, he had conducted a significant amount of the research for his thesis, titled similarly, "The Morning After: Press Coverage of Presidential Primaries, 1972-1984." The thesis allowed him to combine his interests in journalism and politics.
The experiences and lessons from their time at Princeton and in the Obama administration are just as relevant today. Chris, during his time in the Obama administration, helped to blaze a path as one of the highest-ranking Asian Americans. His policy background and research at Princeton have influenced his professional career, and he currently serves as an at-large member of the Democratic National Convention, playing a role in shaping the 2020 presidential primary process.
CL's policy background and research at Princeton have also influenced his professional career. However, the nature of this influence is less clear and specific compared to Chris's.
Asian Americans comprise a significant portion of the Woodrow Wilson School student body, with roughly 23.8% of the Princeton class of 2028 being Asian American. The Woodrow Wilson School is among the most popular majors at Princeton, focused on public policy and multidisciplinary study. Princeton SPIA demonstrates strong engagement with Asian issues, highlighted by the school’s active scholarship, international programs, and public policy work related to Asia.
The school’s alumni conferences reflect efforts to engage diverse graduate communities, and a future conference celebrating Asian American and Asian alumni is planned. This suggests increasing recognition of Asian American contributions and potentially sharing of experiences in public policy.
Chris advises students writing their theses today to find a topic they genuinely love, find an adviser who is interested in guiding their research, and to start their research early. His academic research and interests in journalism and politics came together during his time at Princeton, and he served as the senior news editor at the Daily Princetonian.
In summary, while detailed personal narratives or direct insights from Asian American Woodrow Wilson School alumni are not explicitly available, the data indicates a significant Asian American presence engaged in public policy studies and policy-related research. The school also supports Asian and Asian American-focused policy initiatives and encourages alumni involvement in Asian-related public affairs. Upcoming alumni events may further illuminate these experiences and insights. For more detailed alumni testimonies, one might consult Princeton’s alumni networks or specific SPIA publications.
- Conducting significant research for their senior theses allowed Chris and CL to gain valuable skills and experiences in undergraduate research, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth that have helped shape their careers.
- In addition to their professional achievements, the independent work conducted during their senior theses provided Chris and CL with opportunities for skills-training and career-development that have been instrumental to their success.
- Today's students writing their senior theses at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School can draw inspiration from the experiences of alumni like Chris and CL, who emphasize the importance of finding a genuine interest in a topic, seeking an engaged adviser, and starting research early to foster success in their academic and professional lives.
