A leader in immigration reform and LGBTQ+ rights, University of Michigan student Shuyan Tang has been named a 2025 Truman Scholar — one of the nation’s most prestigious scholarships for students pursuing careers in public service.
Tang, U-M’s 31st Truman Scholar, is among 54 students selected this year from 49 U.S. colleges and universities. He earned the award by combining his personal experience as a former asylum seeker with practical achievements in legislative and electoral politics.
“I know the U.S. immigration system is broken because I lived it,” said Tang, a political science major in LSA. “No one should spend years in limbo just to be told whether they belong.
“Still, I believe in our nation’s capacity for compassion and fairness. Public service gave me purpose, and pursuing a legal education and a seat at the policymaking table is my specific route to make that vision closer to reality.”
Administered by The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the award provides $30,000 for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling and unique internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government. This year’s 54 awardees join a community of 3,618 Truman Scholars named since the first awards in 1977.
“This scholarship process taught me that even in challenging times for public service, if you believe in your cause and yourself, you can still succeed,” Tang said. “I now hope this award will support my legal education and connect me with a lifelong community of service-minded leaders who, like me, are committed to building a more just, inclusive and compassionate country. “
Tang grew up in a rural Chinese working-class family. Despite living in a household of domestic violence, homophobia and poverty, Tang became a first-generation college student in Beijing, where he worked as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He co-authored a major survey on LGBTQ+ mental health and aided the LGBTQ+ community in China.
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After arriving in the U.S., Tang navigated the complex and difficult immigration process and became a U.S. resident. He then served in congressional offices, led a successful local campaign and became a U.S. citizen by joining the Air Force Reserve — all while building a career in public service.
In Congress, Tang interned for U.S. Reps. Mark Takano and Katherine Clark. He cleared more than 2,000 backlogged constituent cases and wrote memos that highlighted rising asylum delays and global threats to LGBTQ+ rights. His research highlighted key immigration issues and helped shape policy conversations inside the Capitol.
While at U-M, Tang managed a successful local school board campaign, running a digital outreach strategy that reached over 60,000 voters. He also founded Students Against Domestic Abuse, the first student organization on campus that focuses on addressing domestic violence.
“I built and led an eight-member executive team, organized a campuswide panel event and established peer support groups for student survivors,” he said. “As a first-generation American from China, I have lived the consequences of failed institutions. However, I’ve also experienced how public service — whether through congressional work, campaign leadership or military service — can transform pain into action.”
Tang plans to use the Truman award to pursue a law degree and continue shaping national immigration policy.
“I realized advocacy alone isn’t enough — real change requires legal authority and elected leadership,” Tang said.
Tang expects to graduate from U-M in 2026, after having completed his military training and undergraduate degree. He plans to intern with the Senate Judiciary Committee and continue working on asylum policy while advocating for the rights of immigrants.
“Reports suggest even asylum seekers still awaiting a decision are at the risk of deportation,” he said. “Having been granted citizenship, I am committed to defending it for others. I plan to use the committee’s tools, such as hearings and policy oversight, to uphold asylum due process while combating xenophobia and racism.”
