Audrey Chau ’21 Wins Princeton Stokes Prize

Audrey Chau ('21) was recently awarded the Donald E. Stokes Prize, recognizing her extraordinary leadership and her outstanding contributions to the School of Public and International Affairs and its undergraduate program.

Offering a thoughtful close to her undergraduate journey, Audrey is now preparing for her next chapter, working in the United States and planning to continue her studies with a master’s degree.

A Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship recipient in 2018, Audrey shares how those early experiences at SSIS — in classrooms, in community, and in moments of challenge — helped her navigate uncertainty, lead with intention, and stay grounded in the values of global citizenship she first discovered as a Dragon. 

How did your experiences at SSIS prepare you to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact during your university years?

Even in my early days as a Dragon, the core values Sense of Self and Dedicated Service spoke to me. Self-awareness and civic engagement often go hand in hand: when you understand your passions, strengths, and interests, it becomes easier to find meaningful ways to contribute to your communities. And the more engaged you are, the more your sense of self develops.

I am grateful for the opportunity to hone these values early at SSIS through experiences ranging from Dragon Crew to serving as Vice President of the National Honor Society.

I carried these lessons to Princeton, where the unofficial motto is “in the Nation’s Service and the Service of Humanity.” With endless opportunities to get involved, having a strong sense of self helped me identify the causes and organizations where I could contribute most meaningfully. Those experiences then deepened my academic and professional interests. I credit SSIS with giving me the grounding I needed to lead with intentionality.

You graduated from SSIS in 2021, during the height of a particularly challenging time. How did that time influence your resilience and perspective on the world?

My last year at SSIS was indeed a challenging one. I often wondered how our community could stay connected when we were physically apart. To my surprise, teachers and students found creative ways to turn our homes into spaces for collaboration and conversation. In Theater 2, for example, we assembled collages of items that represented who we are. The simplicity of the exercise opened up meaningful conversations and helped me learn more about my peers’ stories. As a community, we learned to find positives even when so much felt uncertain.

The pandemic also pushed me to think critically about how social media influences our understanding of the world. While it connected us, it also amplified misinformation and political divisiveness – patterns that continue today. It taught me that, especially for young people who grow up online, we need to be vigilant when collective vulnerability can be exploited.

The SSIS mission calls on students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens. Which parts of that mission resonate most with you now, and how have they shaped the way you approach your studies and community?

I still remember visiting SSIS for my Lawrence S. Ting Scholarship interview and marveling at the colorful flags in the Plaza, each representing a future classmate’s home country. Coming from a homogenous school environment, I wondered what it would be like to share academic and social spaces with students from so many different backgrounds.

I quickly realized that even though I was still in Vietnam, SSIS brought the world to me. Whether in class discussions or over lunch, my friends and I talked about how our backgrounds shaped our perspectives. I learned that issues in different communities are often interconnected and that addressing them without a global mindset can be limiting.

At Princeton, I brought my experiences from Vietnam into many discussions and absorbed everything my peers shared about the places they came from. For instance, learning that both Vietnam and Ghana had matriarchal societies in pre-colonial times and later faced similar regressions showed me how global forces shape local realities. Being able to position myself as a global citizen early on at SSIS helped me approach Princeton with humility and intellectual curiosity.

Were there particular teachers, classes, or experiences at SSIS that helped spark your curiosity about public and international affairs or encouraged you to step into leadership?

One of my favorite SSIS classes was AP English Language and Composition, affectionately known as “AP Lang,” with Ms. Jodi Fetterolf. To prepare for the exam, we often had to take stances on policy issues and defend them with strong arguments. Ms. Fetterolf frequently played devil’s advocate, challenging me to think critically about opposing views with grace while still defending my own position.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but these thought exercises prepared me well for the School of Public and International Affairs, where conflict resolution is essential. Whether at speaker events or in class, I was able to express disagreement respectfully and see issues from multiple perspectives. In a world where political divisiveness is growing, that open-mindedness – which I began developing at SSIS – feels more important than ever.

As you begin your professional journey in the U.S. and prepare for graduate studies, how do you hope to use what you’ve learned to contribute to a more connected and equitable world?

Promoting health equity has been a consistent passion of mine. In classes, I learned about the social determinants of health that place certain populations at higher risk of negative outcomes. My thesis examined how low-income youth in the U.S. often face more adverse mental health experiences. However, it was only through volunteering in Trenton – with overworked healthcare providers, high school students from low-income families, and senior citizens battling Alzheimer’s – that I realized how essential it is to center the voices of the people you aim to help. Too often, policymakers are disconnected from the communities their decisions affect. I hope to counter that by prioritizing a community-first mindset and a transnational perspective.

Inequities also rarely exist in isolation. Health outcomes are tied to environmental issues, economic pressures, and political instability. As I pursue further studies in public health, I hope to continue centering vulnerable populations and taking a comprehensive approach to policy-making.

What advice would you give current SSIS students about finding their purpose and building the confidence to make a difference wherever they are in the world?

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that purpose changes as you grow. For young people, it can feel intimidating to think you need to find one specific purpose and commit to it. I encourage students to start small and stay open-minded. Pay attention to issues that spark something in you – the things that make you want to take action. For me, that was mental health advocacy.

Once you find those sparks, take concrete steps locally and connect with others who care. And don’t be afraid to refine or even change your purpose as your perspective evolves. Building confidence follows a similar path. I still think of the timid girl in World Studies 10 who had to muster all her courage just to speak in class – the same one who now presents in front of large audiences and takes on leadership roles.

Confidence comes from doing things scared and accepting that you might fail. Failing early and often teaches you valuable lessons and can even guide you toward your purpose. I encourage students to explore new interests and try things you never thought were possible. Often, the biggest impact starts with small steps.

Reflections to Guide the Next Generation

Audrey’s journey is a reminder that purpose grows over time, shaped by curiosity, challenge, and the courage to try. In her reflections, she offers thoughtful guidance to students: stay open, start small, take risks even when you feel unsure. Confidence, she writes, is built step by step, and purpose evolves as you do.

As she steps into her professional life, Audrey continues to carry the values she developed at SSIS: leading with intention, grounded in community, and committed to contributing to a more connected and equitable world. Her story is a powerful example of how Dragons bring their learning to life long after they leave campus.