Beijing – A recent commencement speech at Harvard University by Chinese graduate Jiang Yurong has unexpectedly ignited a significant online controversy, leading Jiang to publicly address and deny allegations of nepotism surrounding her admission to the prestigious institution. The incident highlights the intense scrutiny public figures, even those newly emerging, face in the digital age.
Jiang, who hails from Qingdao, Shandong province, delivered her speech on May 29, representing her graduating class. Dressed in traditional Chinese attire, her address, delivered in English, utilized a personal anecdote about translating Chinese washing machine labels to underscore themes of diversity and international understanding.
However, soon after the speech went viral across Chinese social media platforms, questions began to emerge from netizens concerning the fairness of her admission to Harvard Kennedy School’s Master in Public Administration in International Development program. These queries quickly escalated into widespread accusations of personal connections influencing her acceptance.
On Monday, Jiang took to Sina Weibo, establishing an account specifically to respond to the swirling allegations. In a series of posts, she firmly denied any impropriety, asserting that her admission was based purely on merit. She clarified that her parents divorced when she was young, and she had minimal contact with her father, who was previously linked to the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF). A 2022 CBCGDF blog post, which allegedly celebrated her Harvard admission and included a thank-you note from her father, Jiang Zhiming (then an official at the foundation), has since been removed or edited, further fueling public speculation.
Jiang stated that her recommendation letters for Harvard came from her economics and political science thesis advisors, as well as her former supervisor at Credit Suisse. While she confirmed an internship at CBCGDF and receiving a recommendation letter from them, she explicitly stated that she did not use it in her Harvard application. She emphasized that all her application materials were verifiable and submitted independently. Furthermore, Jiang disclosed that she deferred her admission for a year due to financial hardship, covering her tuition with nearly four years of work savings. She also affirmed her status, stating, “I hold only a Chinese passport, and I have no green card or overseas citizenship,” directly countering online doubts about her nationality.
