KU senior DaNae Estabine named a Schwarzman Scholar

LAWRENCE — DaNae Estabine, a University of Kansas senior from Olathe, is among the select scholars who have been named to the 11th class of Schwarzman Scholars, which provides for a year of graduate study in China.

Schwarzman Scholars is a fully funded, one-year master’s degree and leadership program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Scholars earn a master’s degree in global affairs.

Estabine is majoring in psychology with minors in business and philosophy. She was among around 5,000 applicants for the award.

Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling and developing a better understanding of China.

After completing the Schwarzman Scholars program, Estabine plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a prosecutor in Kansas.

“One of my key interests is prison reform — a global issue that often goes unnoticed but affects every nation and its citizens,” Estabine said.

The Schwarzman Scholars program, she said, will prepare her with a global perspective and the leadership skills needed to tackle complex challenges like prison reform, both in Kansas and around the world. 

“Through my experience in China, I hope to gain insights into their prison system and its impact, as understanding what works — along with what doesn’t — is crucial to shaping effective policies,” Estabine said.

During her KU career, Estabine has also been named a Newman Civic Fellow and a finalist for the Truman Scholarship. Moreover, she serves as the student body president, having been elected by her peers in March 2024.

“It has been such a pleasure working with and getting to know DaNae over the past two years. Her passion for prison reform is inspiring, and I am certain her experience as a Schwarzman Scholar will expand her leadership skills and global knowledge, enhancing her work as a future prosecuting attorney,” said Erin Wolfram, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships. “I look forward to seeing the impact she makes in the state of Kansas and beyond over the course of her career.”

Named for Blackstone co-founder Stephen Schwarzman, the scholarship program was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship — founded in 1902 to promote international understanding and peace — and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

Admissions opened in fall 2015, with the first class of students in residence in 2016. Estabine is the second Jayhawk to receive the honor. KU graduate Ashlie Koehn was among that first class of Schwarzman Scholars.