The 2026 cohort of Rhodes Scholars from the U.S. will head to Oxford University next October for their graduate studies.
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The 2026 cohort of Rhodes Scholars from the United States was announced Saturday by Dr. Ramona L. Doyle, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust.
This year’s 32 Rhodes Scholars will go to Oxford University in England in October 2026 to pursue their graduate studies. There, they will be joined by dozens of international scholars representing other counties. Several of those international scholars also attended American colleges and universities but are not U.S. citizens; they applied through their home country.
Shortly before Thanksgiving each year, the Rhodes Trust announces its newest group of Rhodes Scholars from the United States. The award, considered to be the most prestigious international scholarship for American college graduates, was established in 1903 through the final will and bequest of Cecil John Rhodes. The first class of scholars began its Oxford studies in 1904.
Almost 2,800 students began the application process this year. Of that group, 965 were ultimately endorsed by 264 different colleges and universities. Selection committees in 16 U.S. districts then invited 238 finalists to appear before them for interviews.
The total value of the Rhodes Scholarship averages about $75,000 per year and can reach up to as much as $250,000 for scholars who remain at Oxford for four years of study in certain departments.
The recipients are selected through a two-stage process. First, candidates submit an application packet, which must include an endorsement by their home college or university. Then, selection committees in 16 U.S. districts interview those judged to be the strongest candidates and make the final choices.
The selection criteria emphasize:
- academic excellence;
- the energy to use one’s talents to the fullest;
- attributes such as truth, courage, kindness, and devotion to duty;
- and the moral force of character and instincts to lead.
Initially, the scholarships were, according to Rhodes’ will, open only to “male students,” a restriction that did not change until 1976. To date, 689 American women have been selected among the total of 3,706 U.S. Rhodes Scholars.
The U.S. Scholars
The 2026 U.S. Rhodes Scholars were selected from 22 unique colleges and universities, including three institutions that had not hosted a Rhodes Scholar in more than 25 years: Colby College, Rutgers University, and George Washington University. Harvard, Yale, MIT and the U.S. Military Academy led the way with three U.S. Scholars each. Brown University and the U.S. Air Force Academy each had two scholars. The U.S. winners will join Rhodes Scholars selected from 25 other countries plus two Global Rhodes Scholars for a total cohort of more than 100 students.
The complete list of Rhodes Scholars from the U.S. can be found here. As in the past, the 2026 class is a diverse group in terms of backgrounds, interests and activities. It includes musicians, artists, a triathlete, a hockey player, a gymnast, a soccer player and a member of the U.S. National Paralympic team. Some of the scholars have founded nonprofits, others have served as Congressional interns. The list features creative writers, published researchers, and individuals who have already worked in federal agencies.
This class of U.S .Rhodes Scholars will pursue studies across the social sciences, humanities, and biological and physical sciences. For example:
Nicholas G. Sanzi is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Brown University with a B.Sc. in International and Public Affairs. The managing editor for the Brown Journal of World Affairs, a legislative intern with Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and a triathlete, Nicholas paints portraiture and has filmed a documentary on graffiti artists in France. At Oxford, he intends to study for the M.Phil. in Politics.
Esmeralda Abreau Jerez graduated from Dartmouth College in 2025 with a B.A. in Geography and Quantitative Social Science. She currently works at Pfizer, focusing on research on patient outcomes and quality of life. At Dartmouth, she was an organizer and steward with the Student Worker’s Collective and founded a women’s health committee serving migrant farm workers in the Upper Valley. At Oxford, Esmeralda intends to complete an M.Sc. in Global Health Sciences and Epidemiology and an M.Sc. in Health Service Improvement and Evaluation.
Alice L. Hall is a senior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is completing degrees in Chemical Engineering and Spanish. She was elected MIT student body president and is a member of MIT’s varsity basketball team. Alice intends to pursue a D.Phil. in Engineering Science at Oxford.
Robert J. Miller, a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy, majors in Electrical & Computer Engineering and minors in Robotics. He serves as the Air Force Academy’s Cadet Wing Commander, the highest-ranking cadet position at the Academy. He focuses on the field of neuroprosthetics, bridging the fields of robotics and biology. Miller is a part of the Academy’s Wings of Blue Parachuting Team and serves as an instructor of the military’s premier free-fall airmanship program. He will pursue an M.Sc. in Engineering Science at Oxford.
Victoria M. Harris is a senior at the University of Chicago, majoring in Anthropology and Creative Writing. She has worded as an archaeologist, conducting excavations from Tulsa to New Orleans and has served as a research assistant for the Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies and the Chicago History Museum. Tori’s creative writing has been published in Blacklight Magazine. An accomplished violinist, she performs with the University Chamber Orchestra of the University of Chicago. At Oxford, Tori will pursue an M.Sc. in African Studies followed by an M.Sc. in Archaeology.
Sydney E. Barta, a senior at Stanford University, majors in bioengineering. She has won multiple medals as a member of the U.S. Paralympic National Team and also is the co-president of Stanford’s chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society. Sydney sings in the Stanford a cappella group “Counterpoint.” At Oxford, Sydney will study Musculoskeletal Sciences.
Hadi M. Kamara is a senior at Princeton University, where he majors in Politics. Before coming to Princeton, Hadi served as a C-130 crew chief in the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command. Following his service, he completed an associate’s degree in business administration at Northern Virginia Community College. Hadi has also completed an internship at the Pentagon’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. At Oxford, Hadi will pursue an M.Phil. in International Relations.
Daniel I. Juzych is a senior at Colby College, where he is majoring in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience. A leader in the Ukrainian-American community, Daniel helped establish ophthalmic surgical training centers in Ukraine He is a member of the Colby men’s varsity hockey team and performs Ukrainian dance. At Oxford, he intends to complete an M.Sc. in Modelling for Global Health and an M.Sc. in History of Science, Medicine and Technology.
Doriane R. Keiser is a senior at Montana State University, with a double major in Psychology and Community Health. Both a Udall Scholar and a McNair Scholar, Doriane has completed numerous research projects, including examining how peer relationships influence academic success. She has also worked to expand funding for mental health programs and mentored middle-school students on reservations through her work with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. At Oxford, Doriane intends to complete an M.Sc. in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation and an M.Sc. in Comparative Social Policy.
