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CMU’s Heinz College Student Receives U.S. Department of State FAIT Fellowship


May 27, 2022—Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) announced today that Andy Wu, an incoming graduate student at CMU’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, has been selected by the U.S. Department of State to receive one of only 15 Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowships. 

“Becoming an Information Management Specialist (IMS) and providing IT services internationally is the perfect next step for me,” said Wu. “With each action I pursue as an IMS, I will advance diplomacy overseas, increase multicultural awareness, and develop professionally, thereby creating a legacy of service. The fellowship experience represents the perfect opportunity to obtain my career goals while fulfilling my passion to be an effective representative for the United States.”

Wu is the first FAIT Fellow to receive the Heinz College scholarship under the partnership agreement with the FAIT Fellowship program. With a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, Heinz College partners with numerous organizations to provide opportunities for underrepresented students to help improve access to its graduate programs. The FAIT Fellowship program’s focus on diversity aligns with the college’s core values.

“We are excited to welcome Andy to Heinz College as a FAIT Fellow,” said David Eber, Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Heinz College. “The FAIT Fellowship provides a tremendous opportunity for recipients to continue their education with the end goal of receiving an appointment as a Foreign Services Information Management Specialist. It’s a terrific program, and I know that Andy will thrive.” 

In the FAIT Fellowship program, students receive academic funding for a two-year technology-related master’s degree program, two summer internships, professional development and mentorship. Andy will also receive a Heinz College scholarship to cover the difference between FAIT Fellowship tuition assistance and the cost of tuition at Heinz College. Upon successful completion of the fellowship and the State Department requirements, Wu will receive an appointment in the Foreign Service as an IMS.

A second-generation American and first-generation college student, Wu was born in the United States to his Chinese immigrant parents. A Philadelphia native, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University with a double major in Business Information Systems and Finance, a minor in Chinese, and a certificate in Business Analytics. He won a Gilman Scholarship to Hong Kong in 2019 and is a 2021-2022 Gilman Alumni Ambassador. In the fall of 2022, Wu will enter the Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) degree program at Heinz College. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Fujianese dialect.

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About Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
The Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy is home to two internationally recognized graduate-level institutions at Carnegie Mellon University: the School of Information Systems and Management and the School of Public Policy and Management. This unique colocation combined with its expertise in analytics set Heinz College apart in the areas of cybersecurity, health care, the future of work, smart cities, and arts & entertainment. In 2016, INFORMS named Heinz College the #1 academic program for Analytics Education. For more information, please visit www.heinz.cmu.edu.