Kenny Mok '25: Bridging Sustainability, Heritage, and Global Impact Through the Yenching Scholarship

Kenny Mok '25, a recent Dartmouth graduate, has a powerful vision: to uplift lives in low- to middle-income countries by advancing sustainable infrastructure projects. His dedication has earned him prestigious recognition, earning acceptance to both a Fulbright Scholarship in Taiwan and the Yenching Scholarship in China. Mok chose the latter, a highly selective, interdisciplinary graduate program at the Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing. There, he will embark on a two-year master's degree designed to cultivate leaders committed to global progress and cross-cultural understanding.

As a history major with a minor in environmental studies, Mok meticulously crafted his academic journey at Dartmouth. His involvement as a Gilman and Obama-Chesky Voyager scholar, founder and president of the Dartmouth Asian Latinx Multicultural Association, and rigorous commitments with the Dickey Center and Irving Institute, highlights his commitment to leadership and cultural understanding.

Driven by a passion for sustainable infrastructure and active engagement with the Irving Institute, Mok's path is one of dedication and strategic focus. In this interview, we delve into his motivations for accepting the Yenching Scholarship.

Question: What motivated you to apply for the Yenching Scholarship?

Kenny Mok: The opportunity to study in China is profoundly important to me, especially as someone of Chinese descent, born and raised in Puerto Rico. As part of the Chinese diaspora, I've actively sought opportunities to explore my identity, and the Yenching Scholarship offered the perfect avenue to connect with China. This aligns with my interests in energy, renewable energy transition, and the evolving global landscape.

China is central to nearly every discussion about energy markets, energy transitions, and resource refinement. There's a significant intersection between my Chinese heritage, the energy transition, international relations, and China's historical trajectory in dominating renewable energy. I'm eager to immerse myself in Beijing, the heart of China and a pivotal center for the energy transition. While it will be a challenge stepping outside my comfort zone—I speak Cantonese, not Mandarin—I believe it's essential for my growth.

Question: How does the Yenching Scholarship align with your academic and career aspirations?

Kenny Mok: History, at its core, is about pattern recognition. As the energy transition progresses, understanding historical patterns allows me to identify and disrupt negative cycles, ultimately preventing the perpetuation of energy inequity. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I witnessed firsthand the fragility of our electricity grid, plagued by mismanagement and vulnerability to natural disasters. It didn't take a hurricane to take down the grid; strong winds and heavy rains posed just as much of a threat. With a comprehensive understanding of the issues, I hope to leverage an interdisciplinary background to create effective solutions. My participation in TuckLAB: Energy pushed me further into the energy sector. The MBA professors presented similar situations around the world. This problem of energy insecurity—lack of reliable access to electricity—affects millions of people.

Through the scholarship, I'll learn more about China, its dominant role in the renewable energy transition and critical resources, and energy infrastructure development.

Question: What field of study will you pursue through the Yenching Scholarship?

Kenny Mok: I plan to focus on Politics and International Relations. My goal is to deepen my understanding of energy challenges and solutions, and then apply that knowledge to address similar issues in Puerto Rico. I am interested in developing improved infrastructure, streamlined bureaucracies, and enhanced representation.

Energy insecurity problems share many commonalities across different regions. These include lack of organization, a lack of trust between communities and governments, or aging infrastructure. I'd like to develop a robust solution that could be replicated from Puerto Rico to communities in South America or Southeast Asia.

Question: What do you hope to gain from participating in the Yenching Scholarship program?

Kenny Mok: I intend to leverage the Yenching Scholarship to build upon my existing network through Dartmouth and cultivate new connections in China to advance innovative solutions. China's growing influence in clean energy and its mission to develop relationships with emerging economies make it a crucial place to foster collaboration. I aim to establish and maintain trilateral or multinational partnerships to improve infrastructure and systems for the betterment of communities worldwide.

My work with the Obama Foundation on field study research in Argentina, Chile, Vietnam, and Japan provided valuable insights into infrastructure development. I learned a lot about how to think about infrastructure. A lot of investment was coming from China. I'm interested in how China is using infrastructure to curate relationships with other countries across emerging markets. China's investments are creating positive, impactful change for Chile to provide energy for rural communities. China continues to position itself as the greatest and largest source for renewable energy and can help other countries develop infrastructure and grow their economies. A better understanding of infrastructure development and investments are made, and how they impact countries, will help me identify regions in need and work toward solutions.

Question: Can you share how your participation in the Irving Institute's programs influenced your academic interests and career goals?

Kenny Mok: TuckLAB: Energy and the Energy Justice Clinic (EJC) were particularly impactful. TuckLAB: Energy introduced me to the world of energy, and I followed up with projects with Dr. Sarah Kelly and the EJC. 

Dr. Kelly really helped me gain perspective. I wrote a paper on resource extraction in the lithium triangle. There are so many conversations relating to minerals needed for the energy transition–from lithium to nickel, to cobalt. Every time I found an article on the lithium triangle, I found articles about Chinese investments. The history behind it is intriguing, particularly how those nations have dealt with foreign investment.

I'm also very interested in the justice angle. How are communities impacted by Chinese capital, especially Indigenous tribes. There's a disconnect from the government with the tribes. It's important to represent their voices. In Puerto Rico, there is a lack of representation. There isn't enough education about why the infrastructure has never been improved since Hurricane Maria. I'm really interested in connecting energy justice with international relations and business. It was my interest in business and energy justice that drove my deepening interest in energy and sustainability.

Question: Is there anything else that you would like to share?

Kenny Mok: I am excited about the prospect of forming relationships with the most established school in China, as well as government officials, social workers, and private corporations based in Beijing. I see the scholarship as a catalyst for my career in international relations. It will also allow me to connect with my own identity as a member of the Chinese diaspora, while simultaneously gaining a better understanding of China's growing influence in the renewable energy transition. By adopting sustainable strategies, I am hopeful that I can enhance the quality of life for individuals in emerging and rapidly developing nations.