Willow Taylor Chiang Yang selected as Barry scholar
The 2025 graduate will pursue a master’s in political research at the University of Oxford in England.
Willow Taylor Chiang Yang ’25 of Burlingame, California, has received the Barry scholarship to pursue a master’s in political research at the University of Oxford. She will begin her graduate studies this fall.
The John and Daria Barry scholarship for study in the University of Oxford began in 2019 and is awarded to the leading students of the United States in recognition of their dedication to the pursuit of truth.
Willow earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in American political economy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. She is the third Barry scholarship recipient from UNC-Chapel Hill.
For Yang, the decision to pursue graduate study at Oxford grew out of her academic interests and her study abroad program at the London School of Economics.
“It’s at the intersection of a lot of things I’m excited about personally and professionally right now,” said Yang, who created her own interdisciplinary studies major as an undergraduate.
At Oxford, Yang plans to focus on questions related to work, labor and decision-making, interests she developed through coursework and research at Carolina.
“I’ve found that I’m drawn to questions about work and labor: What individual-level factors influence our work choices?” Yang said. “What does it mean to do ‘meaningful’ work, and what would that look like on a broader scale? What can macroeconomic trends in labor supply tell us about the cultural and social moment?”
At Carolina, Yang pursued research and civic engagement at the intersection of politics and economics. She conducted research on political polarization with faculty, participated in voter mobilization efforts and contributed to the Krasno Events Series, helping organize international policy discussions with scholars and practitioners. She also wrote a senior honors thesis examining the relationship between socioeconomic status and career decision-making.
“I am so thankful for the people at Carolina who allowed me to cultivate and pursue the college experience I had: faculty, peers, advisers and everything in between,” Yang said.
Through Morehead-Cain, Yang participated in summer enrichment internships, independent projects and travel supported by the Lovelace Fund for Discovery, which she described as an opportunity to pursue self-directed projects.
“You just have this ultimate financial freedom at your disposal with which to do something cool, powerful, fascinating. That opportunity was a little paralyzing at first, but I’m so glad I was able to use that funding over the years to build some one-of-a-kind experiences that would’ve been near-impossible otherwise.”
Yang also reflected on her Outdoor Leadership as informing her sense of resilience.
“Just knowing that I survived being almost totally off grid for three weeks . . . is such a source of comfort and pride and assurance that no matter what, even if I have to retreat into the Minnesota Boundary Waters for a month, I’ll be OK,” Yang said.
At Oxford, she plans to continue developing her quantitative research skills through coursework and independent study.
Marc Howlett, executive director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships in Honors Carolina, said Yang’s time on campus prepared her well to succeed at Oxford.
“At Carolina, Willow developed a track record of pragmatic, open-minded and collaborative leadership to address pressing issues,” he said. “We are excited to see her wide-ranging impact at Oxford and beyond.”
