Michigan State University alumnus Mustafa Syed has been named a Schwarzman Scholar, joining an elite group of future global leaders. Syed is MSU’s second Schwarzman Scholar in the history of the award.
The Schwarzman Scholars program selects students from around the world for a fully funded one-year master’s degree and leadership program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Nearly 5,000 candidates applied globally for the 10th cohort of the program. Approximately 400 candidates were interviewed, producing a class of 150 Schwarzman Scholars representing 38 countries and 105 universities.
“I am deeply honored to represent MSU on a global stage. The love and support I experienced as a student played an integral role in shaping my success today,” said Syed.
“Mustafa is an admirable example of Spartan entrepreneurial excellence and leadership,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “We’re very proud of his success and know that, with Mustafa’s determination to make a positive difference in international settings, he is a highly deserving recipient of the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars award.”
“Mustafa’s academic achievements and entrepreneurial successes showcase the ambition found across campus,” said MSU Honors College Interim Dean Glenn Chambers, Ph.D.
“The Distinguished Student Awards Office – housed within the Honors College – empowers all MSU students, like Mustafa, to pursue these awards. We’re proud to celebrate his remarkable accomplishment as the university’s second Schwarzman Scholar,” Chambers said.
“Mustafa Syed models Spartans Will. He is an engaged scholar, an entrepreneurial success story, and a model human being,” MSU Professor Morgan Shipley said.
Syed graduated from Michigan State University in 2024 with a degree in religious studies from the College of Arts and Letters. His leadership as president of the MSU Entrepreneurship Association drove entrepreneurial growth across campus.
“Gracious in his actions and intentional in his pursuits, Mustafa leads with compassion, inviting others to join in his pursuit of human flourishing. He is, in short, an inspiration, not in a flashy and heavy-handed way, but as a catalyst for the sense of possibility that dwells in each of us,” Shipley said.
As a British-born American of Pakistani origin, Syed said he embraces his cross-cultural identity as a foundation for fostering global collaboration. He said he focuses on uniting communities through entrepreneurship, particularly in consumer technology.
As the founder of REZA — one of the first footwear brands to embed glass fiber — Syed holds three design patents. His work in product development and supply chain in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Taipei enabled REZA to ship products to all 50 states and 30 countries.
Through the Schwarzman Scholars Program, Syed plans to leverage his experience with U.S. and Chinese startups to deepen his understanding of the Chinese economy and strengthen relationships with leaders across industries.
Before his time at MSU, Syed attended Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Mich.
This story originally appeared on the Distinguished Student Awards Office website.
