Keesing Named Truman Scholar

STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford fencer Liana Keesing was among 58 students from around the country selected as Truman Scholars. 

According to the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation Web site, it reviewed 705 files from 275 institutions. Students were nominated by their institution based on their records of leadership, public service, and academic achievement. Our Finalist Selection Committee selected 189 students from 126 institutions to interview with the Foundation's Regional Review Panels between March 1 and April 4. 

Keesing, a junior and team captain, competes in foil for Stanford. She is pursuing a joint B.S./M.S. in electrical engineering with a minor in physics. Keesing described herself as "passionate about the intersection of democracy and emerging technology."

An honors candidate with Stanford's Center for Ethics in Society, her thesis focuses on the ethical design of "smart" surveillance systems. 

An ardent technologist, she is the co-founder and chief technology officer of a startup developing low-cost, machine-learning-enabled sensor systems for agriculture and defense applications. Equally committed to public policy and the political process, she co-led Stanford's nonpartisan voter engagement effort in 2020 and now directs projects for a national student voting organization. 

Keesing plans to follow her engineering degrees with a master's in technology and policy, and aspires to work within the government to "unleash the immense potential of emerging technologies for public good."