University Scholars are selected each year by a Universitywide faculty committee using criteria that include coursework and academic achievement, independent research and creative work, evidence of intellectual growth or innovation in their disciplinary field, a personal statement and faculty letters of recommendation.
Yifan (Ivan) Shen '25 (B.Arch) Credit: @ Syracuse University 2024Yifan (Ivan) Shen ’25 is pursuing dual majors in architecture (B.Arch) and Music History and Cultures (B.A.) and is a member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. He is also a Remembrance Scholar and has been selected to represent Syracuse University as a Senior Class Marshal for the Class of 2025, making him the first Chinese international student at the university to receive such an honor.
Shen’s broad research interest spans architecture, urban studies, and music history, often exploring how physical and sonic environments interact. He has participated in over than 20 national and international design competitions, earning more than 10 award recognitions for his work in architectural innovation and urban design. His project The Domestic Nomad won first place in the Home2124 international design competition and the School of Architecture’s Integrated Design Studio Prize, Overall Design Award, while Farming Depot City, developed in the London abroad program, received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 eVolo Skyscraper Competition.
Shen’s architecture thesis project, Made in China, Remade in Kibera, investigates Chinese-constructed infrastructure projects in informal neighborhoods in Nairobi, challenging common perceptions of these environments. Funded by a SOURCE Grant and awarded the Crown Thesis Award, he has embarked on field trips to the largest informal settlement in East Africa, lasting more than 70 days. His work highlights the resilience and adaptability of these communities in the context of extreme poverty and transnational developments while proposing alternative ways to understand urban development.
“My fieldwork in some of the most challenging parts of Africa has shown me that there is still so much work to be done, and true progress comes from looking beyond immediate wins and losses to focus on the bigger picture,” says Shen.
In music history, Shen’s distinction capstone project, Staging the Extremes: Model Operas and Struggle Sessions during China’s Cultural Revolution, examines how performance spaces were used for political and ideological reinforcement. His essay received the Abraham Veinus Prize, awarded by the Department of Art & Music Histories at Syracuse University, for the best undergraduate student paper in music history and cultures. By analyzing historical records and soundscapes, Shen offers insights into how architecture and music can be tools of both oppression and expression.
Beyond his own projects, Shen has been actively involved in faculty-led research, assisting with studies on floodplain resilience in the Yangtze River Basin, biodiversity corridors, and net-zero housing strategies. His interdisciplinary approach reflects his curiosity and willingness to connect different fields of knowledge.
Shen’s achievements have also been recognized with the Alfred L. Kaskel Scholarship, the highest academic merit award in the School of Architecture, and the Maxwell Citizenship Scholarship for his commitment to public service through design. These experiences have reinforced his interest in how architecture can respond to social and environmental challenges.
While at Syracuse, Shen has taken on multiple teaching and mentoring roles, serving as a teaching assistant for architecture studios and theory courses and tutoring students in core subjects across the B.Arch curriculum. Understanding the challenges faced by international students, he co-founded the International Mentor Squad at the School of Architecture, creating a network to support students in navigating research and professional opportunities. Shen has also played an active role in student organizations, serving on the School of Architecture’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Council and chairing the design team for the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS).
In addition to his academic and design work, Shen has deeply engaged with the university’s cultural and artistic life. As a 2023-24 Luise and Morton Kaish Fellow at the Syracuse University Art Museum, he planned an exhibition that explored the relationship between music, architecture, and landscape paintings. Music has also remained an important part of Shen’s university experience—he has performed with the Hendricks Chapel Choir and the Syracuse University Oratorio Society and has been involved in campus events that celebrate interdisciplinary creativity.
“This honor is a reflection of the mentors and peers who have supported me throughout my journey,” says Shen. “As an international student, I hope to be a resource and inspiration for others navigating similar paths. In a world of uncertainty, I want to contribute to narratives of collaboration and development through my work in architecture and research.”
Shen has received master’s program offers from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Princeton University School of Architecture, and MIT School of Architecture and Planning. He will attend one of the three universities for the next two years.
Congratulations, Ivan!
To view all the University Scholars selected for 2025, visit news.syr.edu/blog/2025/03/24/2025-syracuse-university-scholars-announced.
