The Jiang Fellows Program recently welcomed 20 students to its 2025 cohort. The students will spend the spring semester sharpening their entrepreneurial skills while preparing for a fully funded summer internship at a startup of their choice.

With the generous support of Tianyi (TJ) Jiang '96, Ph.D., the Jiang Fellows program will follow the success of the Kessler Fellowship, which had its final year in 2024. 

Students from all walks of Cornell interested in entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply in September of their junior year to the Jiang Fellows program. The program allows students to build their entrepreneurial skills, experience and professional network throughout their summer internship. 

When asked about her interest in the Jiang Fellows program, Grace Qi '26 said, "I don't think there's a better crash course in learning than working at a startup or founding a company. You wear so many hats, gain exposure to all areas of business and dive deep into different industries, all while tackling real-world challenges you're passionate about!" 

During the spring semester, fellows complete a one-credit course to explore fundamental topics in entrepreneurship and help cultivate their readiness for a summer internship experience at a startup. While taking this course, students research startups they are interested in and connect with Entrepreneurs in Residence as well as program alumni, who offer their advice and expertise as they begin to secure internships. Throughout the internship, students receive a weekly stipend and have travel costs covered, thanks to Dr. Tianyi (TJ) Jiang '96. In exchange for a free summer intern, the host company agrees to provide their Jiang Fellow with executive level access and mentorship, providing a truly unique experience. 

The 2025 Jiang Fellows are: 

1. Aaron Parajon '26, applied economics and management
2. Anya Shukla '26, computer science and anthropology
3. Benjamin Roitman '26, mechanical engineering
4. Caroline Zhu '26, applied economics and management
5. Celeste Chhibber '26, independent engineering major
6. Connor Roche '26, biomedical engineering
7. Edgar Cabrera Jr. '26, applied economics and management
8. Ellie Park '26, applied economics and management
9. Grace Qi '26, applied economics and management
10. Ishita Yadav '26, information science and economics
11. Jade Nguyen '26, human development and information science
12. Katherine Son '26, biometry and statistics
13. Maguette Diop '26, mechanical engineering
14. Marcos Karakousis '26, information sciences
15. Ronald Leung '26, computer science
16. Saksham Sood '26, computer science
17. Sarah Zhong '26, computer science and electrical and computer engineering
18. Sourabh Velaga '26, biometry and statistics
19. Steven Sabbagh '26, biometry and statistics
20. Summer Seward '26, government and music

The cohort will complete their program in the fall with a presentation reflecting on their summer experiences. Many of these students are hopeful about bringing their startup dreams to reality and creating a lasting and meaningful impact on society.

"After the Jiang Fellowship, I hope to use my entrepreneurship experience to drive sustainable innovation, address the housing crisis and reduce carbon emissions. By leveraging my skills and the program's resources, I aim to develop scalable solutions — like modular, energy-efficient designs — that balance environmental impact with accessibility, creating a future where sustainable living is both attainable and transformative," said Jiang Fellow Celeste Chhibber '26.