Maria Buscemi will read the MPhil in US History at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford. A senior at the University of Oklahoma, she will be graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in Letters: Constitutional Studies and Spanish. While at OU, she served as Vice Chair of Adjudications for the University’s Integrity Council and President of the Oklahoma Undergraduate Mock Trial Team. She’s also a member of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage’s Society of Fellows. At Oxford, she hopes to examine the relationship between constitutional theory, the law, and political action in antebellum America. In her free time, Maria enjoys baking new recipes, reading a good book, and training for the next half marathon in her local area.

Gabrielle Epuran will read the MSt in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at the University of Oxford. She received her BA in Classics from Columbia University, where she wrote her thesis on the character of Darius the Great as represented in Herodotus’ Histories versus Darius’ Behistun Inscription. At Oxford, she intends to research the use of humor and fabulation in Herodotus and Tacitus’ rhetoric as part of building towards a larger project on ancient philosophy of history, as well as ancient emotion (how notions and experiences of joy, pain, etc in the ancient world differ from our own). Gabrielle has also served as the chairman and historian of a philosophy debating society at Columbia.

Levi Freedman will read the BPhil in Philosophy at the University of Oxford. Originally from Washington, DC, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Chicago with a BA in Fundamentals: Issues and Texts. He is also an alumnus of Deep Springs College. His academic interests include German Idealism, existential phenomenology, and the relationship between philosophy and the arts. While at Chicago, he taught civics to middle school students on the South Side. He has worked as a high school teacher in rural Wisconsin, teaching both calculus and English. Outside of the classroom, Levi enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, and reading poetry.

Isabella Griepp will read the MPhil in Theology (Ecclesiastical History) at the University of Oxford. She plans to focus her thesis on evangelical women in the 18th and 19th centuries and their impact on society. She is a senior at Stanford University majoring in Classics, specializing in Ancient History, and double minoring in Data Science and Modern Languages (Spanish and Russian). During her time at Stanford, Isabella served as a leader in Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, the Society for International Affairs at Stanford (SIAS), and Scholars of Finance. She also interned in the Office of Condoleezza Rice, where her research on school choice was used to create an interactive map for the Hoover Institution. During her time as a staff writer for the Stanford Review, she published articles on faith and campus life. A lifelong competitor, she was thrilled to race as a scholar All-American for Stanford’s alpine ski team. Isabella is a coffee aficionado, language lover, avid traveler, and she is deeply passionate about literature. She looks forward to exploring all this and more while in the UK. 

Paul A. Guajardo will read the MSt in Global and Imperial History at the University of Oxford. A Kennedy Scholar, he graduated with honors from Brigham Young University where he double majored in English and history. After serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guadalajara, Mexico, he developed an interest in Spanish and Atlantic history, which became his focus as an undergraduate. At BYU, he was president of the Student Association for Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum and helped professors integrate bilingual components into their undergraduate syllabi. Paul’s honors thesis was a translation of poems by the Equatoguinean writer Zankús Mázé Menemádjimol, and at Oxford he hopes to continue exploring the cultural history of Equatorial Guinea. When he can get away from school, Paul enjoys creative writing, playing the piano, and trying new foods with his wife.

Karolina Nixon will read the BPhil in Philosophy at Somerville College, University of Oxford. She graduated from Columbia University with degrees in philosophy (with departmental honors) and economics, and is pursuing a career as an academic and public philosopher. Her research interests include Ancient Greek philosophy, epistemology, and ethics. Outside of her formal studies, Karolina is a competitive épée fencer. She fenced for the USA National Team and served as captain of the Columbia Fencing team. She plans to continue fencing while completing her BPhil as part of the Oxford University Fencing Club. In 2023, Karolina launched “Philosopher Fencer,” a social media venture aimed at bringing academic philosophy to general audiences through short-form videos. Aside from philosophy and fencing, her interests include writing, visual and performing arts, fashion, and modeling.

Shane Patrick will read the MPhil in Islamic Studies and History at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. He graduated from Princeton University, with a bachelor’s degree in Near Eastern Studies and certificates in Medieval Studies, Hellenic Studies, Latin, and Arabic. He is interested in Christian-Muslim relations during the Middle Ages and the development of Christian religious practices in Africa and the Middle East following the rise of Islam. His undergraduate thesis examined a Maronite Christian legal text, the Mukhtaṣar al-Sharīʿa of ʿAbdallāh Qarāʿalī, and its relationship with Islamic Law and with the legal traditions of other Christian confessions. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the banjo and taking long walks with his wife.

Jacob Rosenzweig will read the MPhil in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at Merton College, University of Oxford. He will graduate from Duke University with a BA in Classical Languages and Political Science. His senior thesis examined the contributions of Greco-Roman philosophy and political thought to the development of natural rights theories in Medieval Europe. Outside the classroom, he has held fellowships with the Hudson Institute and Hertog Foundation, and he has conducted historical research for the Bipartisan Policy Center. Jacob is interested in ancient conceptions of nature, justice, and citizenship, and he will attend Harvard Law School after completing his studies at Oxford. In his free time, he enjoys long walks, great coffee, and challenging books.

Zoditu Schwind will read the MSc in African Studies at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford. She is a senior at George Fox University majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Creative Writing. Her senior thesis, influenced by her time working in hospice care, focuses on how dualistic and non-dualistic perceptions of human nature affect one’s understanding of death. At Oxford, she is interested in studying the history of healthcare in Madagascar, specifically looking at traditional healers and their influence on how Malagasy women understand reproductive health. Zoditu intends to apply for medical school after her time at Oxford and hopes to eventually work in East Africa as a physician. 

Rina Sclove will read the MPhil in Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford. She is a senior at Duke University majoring in Political Science and English with a certificate in Jewish Studies. As an undergraduate, her research has focused on the intersection between political theory and Jewish thought. At Oxford, she hopes to combine her interests in English and Jewish Studies by studying how the setting of the shtetl serves as a site for processing memory and trauma in post-World War II literature. Outside of her coursework, she serves as the president of Duke’s Jewish Student Union. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, crocheting, and cheering on Duke’s basketball team.

Joshua M. Topham will read the MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) at University College, University of Oxford. Originally from St George, Utah, Josh spent two years in Sierra Leone as a religious and humanitarian volunteer before starting his undergraduate degree. He then studied American studies, history, and political science at Brigham Young University, where he graduated summa cum laude. Josh published four research papers during his time at BYU and won a university-wide writing competition. He also served as editor-in-chief of BYU’s American studies journal, was elected American Studies Student of the Year by faculty and peers, and won BYU’s US Constitutional History Award. At Oxford, Josh will continue studying constitutional law, theory, and history. After completing his MPhil, he will join Yale Law School. Josh and his wife, Anna, enjoy traveling and all things outdoors.

Ginger Vidal will read the MSt in English Literature at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. She completed her undergraduate coursework at both Deep Springs College and Barnard College, where she received her BA in English. Her two senior theses on Dickens and Shakespeare explored fictional geographies and the poetics of space. Alongside her studies she worked as a carbon storage researcher and a mule packer. After graduating she spent a year practicing regenerative agriculture at a conservation cattle ranch and bison preserve in Colorado. At Oxford, she hopes to continue to explore how literary landscapes are imagined and the ways they structure and mediate our understanding of 19th century novels. In her free time she enjoys biking, painting, and playing foosball.