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A prominent advocate for immigration reform and LGBTQ+ rights, University of Michigan student Shuyan Tang has been distinguished as a 2025 Truman Scholar—one of the country’s most esteemed scholarships for individuals aspiring to careers in public service.
Tang, U-M’s 31st Truman Scholar, is among 54 candidates selected this year from 49 U.S. institutions. He secured the accolade by merging his personal journey as a former asylum seeker with substantial accomplishments in legislative and electoral efforts.
“I can affirm that the U.S. immigration system is flawed because I have experienced it,” noted Tang, a political science student in U-M’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. “No individual should endure years in uncertainty just to discover their standing.”
“Nonetheless, I have faith in our nation’s ability for empathy and equity. Public service provided me with direction, and pursuing a legal education along with a role in policymaking is my targeted pathway to bring that vision closer to fruition.”
Administered by The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, this award provides $30,000 for graduate education, leadership development, career advice, and exclusive internship and fellowship prospects within the federal government. This year’s cohort of 54 awardees now joins a network of 3,618 Truman Scholars named since the inception of the awards in 1977.
“This scholarship journey demonstrated to me that even during challenging times for public service, if you stand firm in your beliefs and self-worth, you can still achieve success,” Tang remarked. “I now aspire for this award to aid my legal studies and connect me with a lifelong community of leaders dedicated to service who, like myself, are passionate about creating a more equitable, inclusive, and compassionate nation.”
From rural China to U.S. Congress
Tang was raised in a working-class household in rural China. Despite experiencing domestic violence, homophobia, and financial hardships, Tang became a first-generation college student in Beijing, where he served as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He co-authored a significant survey addressing LGBTQ+ mental health and assisted the LGBTQ+ community in China.
Upon arriving in the U.S., Tang maneuvered through the intricate and challenging immigration process and became a U.S. resident. Subsequently, he worked in congressional offices, managed a successful local campaign, and attained U.S. citizenship by enlisting in the Air Force Reserve—all while developing a career in public service.
In Congress, Tang interned for U.S. Representatives Mark Takano and Katherine Clark. He resolved over 2,000 backlogged constituent inquiries and penned memos that underscored rising asylum delays and global challenges to LGBTQ+ rights. His analysis illuminated key immigration matters and influenced policy discussions within the Capitol.
While at U-M, Tang successfully managed a local school board campaign, executing a digital outreach strategy that engaged over 60,000 voters. He also established Students Against Domestic Abuse, the inaugural student organization on campus focused on tackling domestic violence.
“I developed and led an executive team of 8 members, orchestrated a campus-wide panel event, and created peer support groups for student survivors,” he shared. “As a first-generation American from China, I have faced the repercussions of ineffective institutions. However, I have also witnessed how public service—through congressional work, campaign leadership, or military service—can convert suffering into action.”
Tang intends to utilize the Truman award to pursue a legal degree and continue influencing national immigration policy.
“The reality of potentially waiting years for an asylum verdict revealed to me how flawed the system is,” Tang expressed. “I understood that advocacy alone is insufficient—genuine change necessitates legal power and elected representation.”
Tang anticipates graduating from U-M in 2026 after completing both his military training and undergraduate studies. He intends to intern with the Senate Judiciary Committee and persist in working on asylum policy while championing the rights of immigrants.
“Reports indicate that even asylum seekers still pending a decision face the threat of deportation,” he stated. “Having been granted citizenship, I am determined to defend it for others. I plan to leverage the committee’s resources, such as hearings and policy oversight, to ensure asylum due process while combating xenophobia and racism.”
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