Ruirui (Christine) Chen

Ruirui (Christine) Chen (she/her/hers)
Program: MIA
Concentration: Urban and Social Policy
Specialization: Health Policy & Diplomacy, Mediation, and Reconciliation
Hometown: Xiamen, China

Ruirui Chen ’27 is a Master of International Affairs candidate at Columbia SIPA, concentrating in Urban and Social Policy with minors in Health Policy and in Diplomacy, Mediation, and Reconciliation. She recently earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from New York University, where she served as Co-President of the NYU Silver Undergraduate Student Government Association and was honored as the Graduation Student Speaker for NYU Silver and as the BS Class Representative at NYU’s All-University Commencement.

Before joining SIPA, Ruirui gained hands-on policy experience interning in the Office of New York State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, where she explored the intersection of legislative work, social services, and community needs. Her academic foundation was further enriched by independent research on Alzheimer’s disease and social work under Dr. Peggy Morton, deepening her interest in long-term care frameworks and the social policies that shape health and well-being across diverse communities.

Motivated by a commitment to advancing equitable health policies, addressing systemic poverty, and fostering inclusive approaches to conflict resolution, Ruirui seeks to bridge grassroots experience with evidence-based policy design. At SIPA, she is focused on integrating social policy expertise with skills in diplomacy, mediation, and reconciliation to craft sustainable, community-centered strategies that reduce inequalities, strengthen social cohesion, and improve quality of life for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Ruirui warmly welcomes connecting with prospective students to share her experiences and help everyone learn more about the programs, resources, and community that make SIPA unique.