2026 Columbia Truman Scholars (left to right): Justin Kiel, GS'27; Elizabeth Frost, CC'27; Ananya Bhatia, CC'27.
Congratulations to Ananya Bhatia (CC’27), Elizabeth Frost (CC’27) and Justin Kiel (GS’27) who are among the 55 students who were selected as 2026 Truman Scholars.
Established by Congress in 1975 as the living memorial to President Harry S. Truman, the Truman Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to a future in public service, and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.
The 55 new Truman Scholars were selected from 781 candidates nominated by 305 colleges and universities. They were recommended by seventeen independent selection panels based on the finalists’ academic success and leadership accomplishments, as well as their likelihood of becoming public service leaders. Regional selection panels included distinguished civic leaders, elected officials, university presidents, federal judges, and past Truman Scholarship winners.
Ananya Bhatia is a junior at Columbia College majoring in Urban Studies and Political Science and minoring in Human Rights. Raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, Ananya’s dedication to justice reform began in high school while working at her local juvenile court, where she witnessed firsthand the human impact of legal systems. Since then, she has deepened her commitment through internships with the Brennan Center for Justice, the Orleans Public Defenders, and Reprieve, contributing to issues ranging from capital punishment in the Middle East to oversight of domestic technology contracts. Across each experience, she has remained focused on advancing a more equitable and accountable system. Ananya is particularly interested in the regulation of artificial intelligence, surveillance technology, and national security policy. On campus, Ananya serves on the board of the Holder Initiative and Undergraduate Law Review, is a Saltzman Scholar, and works as a Peer Fellow at the Columbia Writing Center. She also conducts research through the London School of Economics on gendered policing in India.
Elizabeth Frost (CC’27) is double majoring in Urban Studies and Germanic Literature and Cultural History. Her work is driven by a commitment to cultural heritage preservation, specifically examining how zoning policies and spatial data can be leveraged to safeguard the history of traditionally underrepresented communities. By blending quantitative data with qualitative research, she seeks to fill gaps in our collective heritage and challenge preconceived notions of which histories merit institutional recognition. Elizabeth’s perspective is shaped by a diverse range of experience, from interning at cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles to advocating for immigrant justice with Afrikana and Students for Sanctuary in New York. Additionally, she is a Holder Initiative Research Fellow, Global Thought Scholar, Saltzman Scholar, and Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Alumni. As a Truman Scholar, she plans to pursue a JD with a focus on cultural heritage preservation. Originally from a small town in New Mexico, Elizabeth enjoys spending her free time exploring New York City, particularly through cafe crawls and museum visits.
Justin Kiel GS’27 is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Human Rights. Bringing over a decade of professional experience in public service to his academic career, he has built an extensive record as an elected official in both town and county government in his home state of Indiana. He currently serves as a LaPorte County Council Member, providing oversight for a $110 million annual budget. In his hometown of LaCrosse, Indiana, he previously served multiple terms as Town Council President, where he worked collaboratively to secure over $14 million in outside funding for infrastructure and public services. Expanding his impact to the regional and national levels, he has held the position of President of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and currently serves as President of the National Association of Regional Councils. Alongside his extensive work in government, for the past twelve years Justin has been the owner and publisher of LaPorte County's only weekly newspaper, The Regional News. He is a 14-time award-winning journalist, recognized for his impactful reporting on local government. He has served in a number of community leadership roles in his local chamber of commerce, Lions Club, and alumni association.
For more information about the Truman Scholarship, please visit Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.