Alumni Spotlight: Shalane Yuen (MPA-PNP 2013)
Shalane Yuen (MPA-PNP 2013) is the founding executive director of the Trevor Noah Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports educational opportunities for South African youth. In addition to her work with the foundation, Yuen also serves as an adjunct professor at NYU Wagner.
What does being Founding Executive Director at the Trevor Noah Foundation entail, and what do you enjoy most about your role?
Launching a foundation from scratch meant rolling up my sleeves for everything: selecting our first partners and schools, hiring the team, and building the systems that keep our finance, operations, and impact measurement running smoothly. Today my role is more about clearing the runway for others. This means ensuring my team has the resources, skills, and confidence to deliver impactful programs, advocating for equitable access to quality education, and creating platforms to spotlight the incredible communities and young changemakers we serve.
What’s one lesson from your time as a Wagner student that you’ve brought to your career?
Wagner taught me that public leadership starts with openness. Faculty and classmates made their time, ideas, and networks accessible, which shaped how I show up as a leader today. I also learned how powerful it is to work across sectors and perspectives through real-world projects like my capstone. That experience grounded me in the real work of partnerships, collaborating closely with our client, navigating dynamics of a team, and making sure the voices of those affected are central to our solution.
You’ve returned to NYU Wagner as an adjunct professor. What motivated you to take on this new role in the Wagner community?
Returning as adjunct faculty has been a meaningful full-circle moment. It allows me to give back to the community that shaped me and to support emerging leaders at the start of their journeys. When I moved back to New York in 2023, I mentioned my interest in teaching to my former professor, John Gershman, and he gave me the encouragement I needed. I’m grateful for that nudge.
Why do you think international education is important?
International education broadens our sense of belonging and exposes us to entirely different ways of solving problems. When students engage with global perspectives, they grow into leaders who understand interconnected challenges, respect cultural context, and collaborate across continents to build equitable futures. We need those kinds of leaders now more than ever.
What impact do you hope to have through your role at the Trevor Noah Foundation?
Africa will soon be home to a third of the world’s young people, which means the future of global innovation and progress sits on this continent. My hope is to ensure those young voices are seen, heard, and taken seriously. At the Trevor Noah Foundation, we focus on education as the gateway: expanding access to skills, networks, and platforms that help young people thrive. Our commitment is to clear barriers and create the space for voices that have been sidelined by inequitable systems, so the future is shaped by those who will live it.