International Studies Postgraduate Award Recipients

(Taiwan) for 2026-2027

Lydia Gold was selected to receive a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2026–27 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan, promoting cultural exchange while supporting English language education. “My pedagogical approach to teaching English includes implementing interactive lessons that incorporate visuals, simplified instructions, and movement-based activities to reach learners of varying abilities,” said Gold in 2026.

At Rhodes, Gold double majored in Chinese Studies and International Studies and developed extensive experience in language learning, teaching, and cross-cultural engagement. As a 2025 Mertie W. Buckman International Intern, she worked in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, designing play-based STEM lessons for children, and previously studied Mandarin at National Taiwan University through Rhodes’ Robert Buckman Fellowship for Study Abroad. Her teaching experience also included tutoring cello students and volunteering with elementary education programs in the United States.

(Colombia) for 2025-2026

Maya Khalife-Hamdan was selected to receive a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2025–26 academic year, through which she served as English Teaching Assistant in Colombia. She was awarded the Cultural Ambassador Award during her Fulbright experience, which is awarded by the Fulbright Commission to one English Teaching Assistant for exceptional contributions to cultural exchange and community engagement.

An International Studies and Spanish double major, she developed a strong academic focus on human rights, transitional justice, and Latin American politics. Her honors research, “Breaking the Silence: Chilean Courts and Justice for Dictatorship-Era Sexual Violence,” was presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference. As a 2023 Mertie W. Buckman International Intern, she worked as a researcher at the University of Chile Law School’s Human Rights Research Center in Santiago, Chile. At Rhodes, Khalife-Hamdan served as co-president of Amnesty International and president of Sigma Iota Rho, the international studies honor society, and was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

(Turkey) for 2022-2023

Molly O’Shea eceived a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2022–23 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Turkey, promoting cultural exchange and supporting English language education. “I am extremely grateful to have been chosen for this award and immensely looking forward to traveling to Turkey this fall,” said O'Shea in 2022. “I would not have this opportunity without the consistent support and encouragement of my Rhodes professors, particularly my advisor Dr. Esen Kirdis, who pushed me to apply for the grant and whose guidance was crucial throughout the process.”

O’Shea graduated with majors in International Studies and History and minors in Spanish and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. During her time at Rhodes, she was active in several honor societies, including Mortar Board, Phi Alpha Theta, and Sigma Iota Rho, and volunteered as a tutor with the Memphis Refugee Empowerment Program. She also gained professional experience as a legal assistant at Martin, Magnuson, McCarthy & Kenney in Boston, MA.

(Austria) for 2023-2024

Tim Turcotte received a Fulbright Austria U.S. Teaching Assistantship for the 2023–24 academic year. Through the program, he taught English to secondary school students in Austria while serving as a cultural ambassador for the United States. An International Studies and German Studies major, Turcotte pursued interests in international affairs, public policy, research, and data analysis during his time at Rhodes. He gained professional experience through internships with Frontdoor, Inc. as an environmental social governance legal intern and with FedEx in regulatory public affairs and communications. On campus, he served as an international peer advisor, worked as an ESL instructor, and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity.

(Palestinian Territories, West Bank) for 2023-2024

James Blan is a Rhodes College graduate who was selected to receive a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2023–24 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, he served as an English Teaching Assistant in the Palestinian Territories (West Bank), supporting English language education and cultural exchange. An International Studies and Political Science major, Blan developed extensive experience in Arabic language study and Middle Eastern affairs during his time at Rhodes. He had also received a Boren Scholarship to study Arabic in Muscat, Oman, and was awarded the Critical Language Scholarship to continue his Arabic studies in Morocco. In addition to his academic pursuits, he volunteered with Memphis’ Halal Food Pantries and completed internships with the Foreign Service Institute and the Tennessee Coordinated Campaign.

(Estonia) for 2022-2023

Carley Jo Goggans received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2022–23 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Estonia, fostering cultural exchange while supporting English language education. “I am very excited about this opportunity, as the Fulbright Program will allow me to continue my international studies work through living in a new culture and experiencing the Estonian language, while also allowing me to pursue some professional music goals due to the rich Estonian choral tradition,” said Goggans in 2022.

At Rhodes, Goggans majored in International Studies, Russian Studies, and Music, with research interests that included global food systems, international GMO law, and Russian language and culture. She was actively involved in campus leadership as president of the Society of World Affairs Today (SoWAT?) and the Rhodes Singers, and she also participated in Model United Nations and the Chamber Singers. In recognition of her work as a student employee in the Department of Music, she was named Rhodes College’s Student Employee of the Year in 2022.

(India) for 2020-21

Jessica Frankl received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2020–21 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in India.“It is such a dream to win the Fulbright. I honestly still feel a state of disbelief,” said Frankl in 2020. “I have always loved school both in terms of teaching and learning, but I struggled tremendously in high school due to my autoimmune disease. Rhodes College saw potential in me and has given me so many opportunities I never thought possible. If I had told myself four years ago that I could win a Fulbright, I simply would not have believed it. I am over the moon to go to India, as I love to study the history of this region and because, as one of the most populous and diverse countries in the world, it has so much to teach me both about matters of education and beyond."

Frankl double majored in Educational Studies and International Studies at Rhodes. As a Mertie W. Buckman International Intern, she worked with Just Grace in Cape Town, South Africa, where she supported tutoring, lesson planning, and university application assistance for students in the Langa township. She also volunteered as an English tutor with the Refugee Empowerment Program in Memphis and served as vice president of Culture of Consent, and she is a member of Sigma Iota Rho, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies.

(Senegal) for 2019-2020

Anna Lee Nabors received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2019–20 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Senegal. “During my junior year, I studied abroad in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and loved the country and experience so much that I knew I wanted to have more time there,” said Nabors in 2019. “I found that people were incredibly welcoming and genuinely interested in having conversations about culture, religion, identity, and politics. Senegalese figures such as Léopold Sédar Senghor and Ousmane Sembène have been big parts of my French studies, and I am excited to engage with more contemporary arts and political movements during my year as an English Teaching Assistant.”

At Rhodes, Nabors majored in International Studies and French. She previously studied abroad in Dakar, Senegal, and completed internships with the German Marshall Fund in Brussels, Belgium, and The Carter Center in Atlanta, where she worked on transatlantic policy research, event planning, and political analysis. She also served as an English teacher with the Refugee Empowerment Program in Memphis and was president of the Sigma Iota Rho international studies honor society, in addition to participating in Pi Delta Phi and Mortar Board.

(Peru) for 2019-2020

Dylan Craddock received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2019–20 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Peru, where she worked at a university that trains local English teachers. “For the Fulbright, I chose Peru because it is the perfect combination of many of my academic interests— indigenous rights, women's rights, and environmental issues. It also has an active civil society and many grassroots movements, which is something I’m excited to see and compare with my past experiences,” said Craddock in 2019. “Peru is also one of the most biodiverse nations in the world, which will allow me to bring my passion for outdoor education into my teaching.”

At Rhodes, Craddock majored in International Studies and Spanish. She previously studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina as a Buckman Fellowship recipient, where she worked with Fundación Pilares supporting education programs and nonprofit development efforts. She also interned with Latino Memphis through the Rhodes Summer Service Fellowship, supporting immigration-related client services and translation work, and served as a research assistant to Professor Jennifer Sciubba. On campus, she was involved in Sigma Iota Rho, Sigma Delta Pi, the Tri Delta sorority, and served as editor of the International Studies Department journal Modus Vivendi.

(Germany) for 2022-2023

Fonda Lilly Wilkinson received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2022–23 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Germany. “I am so honored to be receiving the Fulbright to Germany. I am so thankful to all the people in my life who have supported me through this process, and I am very excited to be participating in this prestigious program starting in the fall,” said Wilkinson in 2022.

At Rhodes, Wilkinson majored in International Studies and German. She completed an internship as an Adult Education Coordinator Intern with the Refugee Empowerment Program in Memphis, worked as a student employee in the Language Learning Center, and served as vice president of the Society of World Affairs Today.

(Spain) for 2019-2020

Lillie Stephens received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2019–20 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Spain. “As an English Teaching Assistant, I hope to learn more about the complex question of Spanish national identity,” said Stephens in 2019. “Living in Spain in this transitional time of changing norms surrounding the former dictator will be a unique opportunity, especially in comparison to the attitudes I observed in Argentina, where they similarly continue to grapple with the repercussions of the Dirty War. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Spanish identity and cultures while improving my communication skills both inside and outside the classroom.”

At Rhodes, Stephens majored in Political Science and International Studies and also completed a second major in Spanish with a minor in Latin American and Latinx Studies. She studied abroad in Cuba and Argentina, experiences that informed her academic interest in national identity and historical memory in Spanish-speaking countries. She worked as a bilingual legal assistant at Siskind Susser, P.C., and interned with the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office, in addition to volunteering with Treadwell Elementary School, the Refugee Empowerment Program, and Latino Memphis. On campus, she was active in multiple honor societies, including Sigma Iota Rho, Sigma Delta Pi, Pi Sigma Alpha, Rho Lambda, and Mortar Board, served as vice president of Rhodes Democrats, and participated in the mock trial program.

(Taiwan) for 2019-2020

Austin Wall received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2019–20 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, he served as an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan. “The Fulbright Program will allow me to spend time learning from a non-Western state that values democracy, human rights, and civil liberties,” said Wall in 2019. “I hope that my time as a Fulbright grantee will allow me to serve my host community to the best of my ability while gaining professional experience in an international setting and improving my Chinese language skills.”

At Rhodes, Wall majored in International Studies and History and studied Chinese, including a semester at East China Normal University in Shanghai. He was a member of Rhodes GenUN and completed an internship with the Micah Corps of the United Methodist Church focused on refugee and immigration issues. He also worked as a Student Associate in the Office of Development and interned in Congressman Steve Cohen’s Memphis field office.

(Kazakhstan) for 2018-2019

Grady Vaughan received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2018–19 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, he served as an English Teaching Assistant in Kazakhstan. “While in Kazakhstan, I will further examine how this Central Asian republic, with two official languages, intends to implement English language programs as part of its ambitious development goals,” said Vaughan in 2018. “In the process, I hope to learn some Kazakh myself. After this year abroad, I plan to take advantage of my experiences in Kazakhstan to shape my graduate school research on language politics and geopolitical issues in this understudied yet critical region.”

At Rhodes, Vaughan majored in International Studies and Russian Studies and worked as a Russian tutor and Bonner Scholar service participant. He was also a member of Dobro Slovo, the national Slavic honor society, and Sigma Iota Rho, the international studies honor society. He completed an internship with the Refugee Empowerment Program in Memphis, supporting local refugee services and education initiatives.

(Malaysia) for 2016-2017

Esther Kang received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2016–17 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia. At Rhodes, Kang majored in International Studies and History. She previously studied abroad in South Korea as a Buckman Fellow at Yonsei University, where she worked as a research assistant for the Korea Institute of Public Administration on projects related to international development and performance evaluation. She also gained experience in education-focused work abroad in Indonesia and Cambodia and served as a senior fellow in the Rhodes Admission Office, supporting prospective students and families.

(Argentina) for 2016-2017

Jacob Turner received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2016–17 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, he served as an English Teaching Assistant in Argentina. At Rhodes, Turner majored in International Studies. He previously conducted research in Argentina on human trafficking legislation and prevention measures, including participation in conferences and meetings within the Argentine Senate. He also assisted in teaching college-level political science and history courses at Duke University and published an article in Agora: Journal for Undergraduate Scholarly Papers.

(Malaysia) for 2017-2018

Meaghan Waff received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2017–18 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia. “My biggest hope is that I will come out of Malaysia having learned just an inkling of how the country manages to host such a diverse society in a vibrant, encouraging manner,” said Wass in 2017. “I also hope that my students will teach me how they see the world because the Malaysian perspective is one I have not had the opportunity to truly engage with before now.”

At Rhodes, Waff majored in International Studies and Spanish. She studied abroad at the London School of Economics through the General Course program and was actively involved in Model United Nations, serving as a chair and crisis director for regional and international conferences. She also worked as an International Peer Advisor and as a Student Associate for the Buckman Center for International Education.

(Germany) for 2015-2016

Arielle Carpenter received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2015–16 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Germany. At Rhodes, Carpenter majored in German and minored in International Studies. She returned from a year at the Universität Tübingen and completed directed inquiry coursework focused on second language pedagogy and teaching German as a second language. She worked as a German teaching intern, observing and assisting in German 101 courses, planning lesson materials, and leading portions of class sessions. She also developed an e-portfolio documenting her teaching materials and reflections, which she continued to build through multiple directed inquiry experiences.

(Taiwan) for 2014-2015

Katherine Klein received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award for the 2014–15 academic year. Through the Fulbright Program, she served as an English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan. At Rhodes, Klein majored in International Studies and developed strong proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, which later supported her work and international experience. Following her Fulbright year, she pursued a legal career focused on government contracts, regulatory compliance, and litigation across sectors including communications, defense, and infrastructure. She has also worked on bid protests and advised clients on federal and state procurement requirements and domestic preference regulations.

(Germany) for 1991-92

Patrick Stuart earned a B.A. in International Studies and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, and Sigma Iota Rho. After receiving a Fulbright Grant to study political science at the Universität Leipzig in Germany, he completed a master's degree in International Relations at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, concentrating in international finance, trade, and European affairs. Stuart went on to build a distinguished career in international economic policy with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he has served in a variety of leadership roles covering global trade, financial development, G7 and G20 coordination, and economic relations across Europe, Asia, and Africa. He also served as an Executive Advisor at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), advising on development policy, financial governance, and institutional oversight.

Project Title: “Fostering Environmentalism through Culture, Religion, and Policy,” (Norway, Malaysia, South Korea, and Argentina)

Jacob Fontaine received a Watson Fellowship for the 2021–22 academic year. Through the fellowship, he pursued a year of independent travel and study focused on his project, “Fostering Environmentalism through Culture, Religion, and Policy,” with fieldwork in Norway, Malaysia, South Korea, and Argentina. “I want to answer the question, ‘What leads young adults to make sustainable decisions?’” said Fontaine in 2021. “To explore that question, I will be immersing myself in communities across the world to explore the impact of public policy, socioeconomic systems, and different religions. Every experience at Rhodes led up to this opportunity, and I am so grateful to the professors, advisors, and administrators who challenged me to take creative approaches to problem solving and leadership.”

At Rhodes, Fontaine majored in International Studies and Economics and served as president of Student Government. He worked with the biology department on Amazon deforestation research and was involved with the Rhodes Sustainability Coalition on campus environmental initiatives. He also served as editor-in-chief of The Bridge, the student-run nonprofit street newspaper, and studied international political economics at the London School of Economics

Project title: “In Peaces: Nonviolence and Reconciliation Movements” (India, South Africa, Rwanda, Chile, Northern Ireland)

Megan Colnar Megan Colnar received a Watson Fellowship for 2008–09, through which she pursued independent travel and study on her project “In Peaces: Nonviolence and Reconciliation Movements,” with fieldwork in India, South Africa, Rwanda, Chile, and Northern Ireland. At Rhodes, she majored in International Studies and Latin American Studies. She went on to earn a Master’s in Public Administration in Development Practice from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She has built a career focused on strategy, impact measurement, and organizational resilience for global social change efforts, including leadership roles at Accountable Now, the Open Society Foundations, and The Hunger Project.

Daniel Head received a Watson Fellowship for 2004–05, through which he conducted independent study and travel on his project “From Messenger to Masochist: Cultural Motivations of Marathon Runners,” with fieldwork in Greece, Australia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Tanzania, and South Africa. At Rhodes, he earned a B.A. in International Studies and Economics and Business Administration. He later completed an Executive MBA at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He is the founder and CEO of Head Global, a talent acquisition and recruitment advisory firm focused on executive search and leadership development for global organizations.

Project Title “Adding Spice to the Sweet Science: The Cultural Dimensions of Amateur Boxing” (Russia Turkey, Spain, Peru, Great Britain)

David LaFevor received a Watson Fellowship for 2003–04, through which he pursued independent study on his project “Adding Spice to the Sweet Science: The Cultural Dimensions of Amateur Boxing,” with fieldwork in Russia, Turkey, Spain, Peru, and Great Britain. At Rhodes, he earned a B.A. in International Studies. He went on to complete an M.A. and Ph.D. in History at Vanderbilt University. He is an Associate Professor of Latin American History and Digital Humanities at the University of Texas at Arlington, where his work focuses on Latin American cultural and social history, particularly the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Tanner Chapman earned an International Studies/History bridge degree and a Religious Studies degree. In 2026, he received The Steve and Riea Lainoff Crop Trust Fellowship in Honor of Cary Fowler ’71, which will support his work with the Global Crop Diversity Trust's external affairs team in Bonn, Germany. “The beauty of spending four years at a liberal arts college like Rhodes is the multifaceted expertise you gain throughout your course of study,” said Chapman in 2026. “Rhodes provided me the ability to learn from professors at the top of their respective fields, meaning I was gaining invaluable knowledge about how the world works, and how to conceptualize the abstract.” 

At Rhodes, Chapman served as a resident assistant, teaching assistant in the Liberal Arts in Prison Program, chief of staff for the Mid-South Model United Nations, and president of the Theta Alpha Kappa religious studies honor society. He was a student tour guide, an alumni ambassador, the secretary of the International and Immigrant Students Association, an event chair for A.S.I.A. (All Students Interested in Asia), and served on the Jameson M. Jones Award for Outstanding Faculty Service committee and on the senior gift committee. He also studied abroad at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and conducted funded research in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Sephardi Diasporic Jewish communities through the James Reeves Hyde Award in Religious Studies.

Brooke Taylor earned bachelor's degrees in International Studies and Environmental Studies. In 2024, she received The Steve and Riea Lainoff Crop Trust Fellowship in Honor of Cary Fowler ’71, joining the External Affairs team at the Global Crop Diversity Trust in Bonn, Germany. Before beginning the fellowship, Taylor interned with the Crop Trust's partnerships and communications team and completed a Mertie W. Buckman International Internship with Ideas for Change in Barcelona, Spain, where she worked on sustainability-focused consulting projects. She also studied abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as a Buckman Scholarship recipient to learn more about sustainability and environmental issues in developing nations. “I’m incredibly excited to further my understanding of global environmental issues and contribute to sustainable change through the experience this fellowship provides,” said Taylor in 2024. “I’m very grateful for all the amazing experiences Rhodes has given me to travel all around the world. The support and resources this college has provided me have been invaluable and allowed me to pursue my passions both internationally and on campus.”

At Rhodes, Taylor served as an environmental studies and sustainability working group assistant, coordinated the campus recycling program, and held leadership roles as president of Sigma Iota Rho and vice president of operations for Culture of Consent.

Walker Coleman earned bachelor's degrees in International Studies and Art History. In 2023, he received The Steve and Riea Lainoff Crop Trust Fellowship in Honor of Cary Fowler ’71, joining the communications and partnerships teams at the Global Crop Diversity Trust in Bonn, Germany. “Rhodes, through wonderful professional opportunities and tremendous faculty mentorship, has fully prepared me to step into the fellowship position at the Crop Trust,” said Coleman in 2023. “Dr. Jennifer Sciubba’s course on ecopolitics transformed an interest in environmental policy into a potential career path, while my other courses in international studies and art history expanded my mind and pushed me to become a more critical thinker and effective writer.”

Before beginning the fellowship, Coleman completed a Mertie W. Buckman International Internship with Climate Analytics in Berlin, Germany, where he contributed to climate science and policy research, and worked locally as a food fellow with Memphis Tilth through the Rhodes Summer Service Fellowship. At Rhodes, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, president of the Fencing Club, and a Mike Curb Institute for Music Fellow. He also hosted the weekly radio show Near and Far and contributed articles and artwork to the Curb art zine, Dredge.

Cali VanCleve was selected as a Boren Scholarship recipient during her time at Rhodes. The Boren Awards, funded by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office, support immersive language study abroad in regions and languages critical to U.S. national security interests. Through the scholarship, she studied Russian in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as part of the School of Russian and Asian Studies’ Russian as a Second Language Program. “A career in public service serves as an avenue to continue advocacy and policy work uplifting immigrant and refugee communities,” said VanCleve in 2024, referring to how Boren Scholars commit to working in the U.S. federal government for at least one year after graduation as part of participation in the program. “Because of Rhodes’ liberal arts education, I’ve also come to find how crucial it is to continue this work—establishing stronger migrant presence and voices—globally. In order to cultivate a world where all can thrive, we must persist at driving attention on the systematic issues within our greater international system.”

At Rhodes, VanCleve was active in civic engagement focused on immigrant and refugee communities in Tennessee through the Bonner Scholars Program and organizations such as Amnesty International and Rhodes Student Government. She majored in International Studies and Russian. She is also a recipient of the Centre for Asian and Pacific Islanders Policy Initiative Fellowship.

Anne Entz was selected as a Boren Scholarship recipient during her time at Rhodes. Through the award, which supports the study of languages critical to U.S. national security interests, she studied Mandarin Chinese at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. “I chose to study Mandarin in Taiwan because I have had a wonderful experience studying Chinese at Rhodes, and I wanted to continue improving my Chinese language skills in an immersive environment,” said Entz in 2022.

At Rhodes, Entz majored in International Studies, Economics, and Chinese Studies. She also served as a Rhodes Global Delegate, supporting fellow students through the study abroad application process. In addition, she participated in a summer program at the London School of Economics, where she studied economics.

James Blan was selected as a Boren Scholarship recipient during his time at Rhodes. Through the award, he spent the 2021–22 academic year studying Arabic in the United Arab Emirates, building advanced language skills in a region central to international diplomacy and U.S.–Middle East relations. “I have always had a life-long passion to gain fluency in Arabic. I chose to study in the UAE specifically because it plays a central role in enhancing international relations and developing a deeper understanding between the Middle East and the United States,” said Blan in 2021. “The UAE is crucial for building trust and cooperation between the U.S. and the Middle East not driven by the language of conflict, but the language of diplomacy.”

At Rhodes, Blan majored in International Studies and Political Science and was active in community engagement through volunteer work with World Relief and Memphis’ Halal Food Pantries. He also completed internships focused on legal services and political outreach, working to support community engagement and amplify underrepresented voices.

Keira Larson was selected as a Boren Scholarship recipient during her time at Rhodes. Through the award, she spent the 2021–22 academic year studying Arabic in Jordan, developing advanced language skills and regional expertise in the Middle East. “I am an aspiring foreign service officer with an expressed interest in North Africa and the Middle East, and so I chose Jordan because it remains a key player in U.S. foreign policy and in the stability of the region,” said Larson in 2021. “Additionally, an immersive experience in Jordan would help me learn the Levantine dialect of Arabic, which is critical for serving as an effective diplomat within the Levantine region.”

At Rhodes, Larson majored in International Studies and History and earned a minor in French. She worked as a Rhodes Student Associate for the Buckman Center for International Education and also gained experience with Literacy Mid-South in Memphis. Her academic interests focused on diplomacy, foreign service, and North Africa and the Middle East, and she pursued Arabic language study through coursework at the University of Memphis, study abroad in Morocco, and advanced language training before her Boren-funded experience in Jordan.

Thomas Cloyd was selected as a Boren Scholarship recipient during his time at Rhodes. Through the award, he studied Turkish in Azerbaijan in 2021, gaining immersive language and cultural experience in a region of growing importance to U.S. national security and international affairs. “I chose the Turkish language program in Azerbaijan because the Turkic world is set to become one of the most important areas for United States national security,” said Cloyd in 2021. “Complex issues in both the Caucuses and the Mediterranean have the potential to evolve into major conflicts in the future. For these reasons, competency in the Turkish language and the culture of Azerbaijan is essential for United States national security and I am honored to have been selected to be a part of filling that demand.”

At Rhodes, Cloyd majored in Political Economy and minored in International Studies, with a particular interest in national security issues. His academic studies included language training in both Turkish and Spanish.

Anna Laymon received a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship for 2012–13, through which she studied in Australia. She earned a B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies before completing an M.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Cincinnati. She has built a career focused on women’s history and public service, including serving as Executive Director of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, where she led national efforts to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. She is currently President and CEO of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation, where she has led efforts to establish the first monument on the National Mall dedicated to American women’s history and has helped build a broad national coalition in support of the project.

Andrew Thomas Greer received a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship for 2008–09, through which he studied in France. He earned a B.A. in International Studies and Political Science, followed by an M.S. in Accounting from Rhodes College, and later completed a Master of International Business at Grenoble Ecole de Management. Greer has worked at First Tennessee Bank since 2009 as a Portfolio Manager in the Warehouse Lending Group. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).