Ļć½¶Ö±²„celebrates newest Rhodes Scholarship finalist
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.āA first-generation Mississippi State student from Brookhaven is a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
Christopher B. Robinson, a senior biological engineering major and Shackouls Honors College Presidential Scholar, is virtually interviewing Nov. 19 and 20 for what is widely considered the worldās oldest and most celebrated international fellowship. Robinson is MSUās fifth Rhodes finalist in 10 years, joining graduates Field Brown, Natalie Jones, Holly Travis and Semaj Martin-Redd.
Criteria for selection include demonstrated scholarly achievement, character, commitment to others and the common good, as well as leadership potential.
The Rhodes Trust, a British charity established in the will of businessman and mining magnate Cecil J. Rhodes, promotes international understanding and provides full financial support for students pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Oxford, the first of its kind in the English-speaking world and one of the worldās leading institutions of higher learning. For more, visit .
Robinson, whose biological engineering major is jointly housed in MSUās Bagley College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is a recipient of MSUās Lila and Hunter Henry Presidential Endowed Scholarship. In spring 2021, Robinson became the sixth Ļć½¶Ö±²„honors student in seven years to receive a prestigious Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute Fellowship. He also was named a finalist for the coveted Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
David Hoffman, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciencesā Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, also serves as director of the honors collegeās Office of Prestigious External Scholarships, which mentors Robinson and other Ļć½¶Ö±²„students applying for national, merit-based scholarships and fellowships.
Hoffman said Robinsonās selection as a Rhodes finalist is a testament to the āexcellentā guidance he has received from Ļć½¶Ö±²„Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biomedical Engineering LaShan Simpson and Ļć½¶Ö±²„Associate Professor of English Don Shaffer. Simpson, who recently was named this yearās winner of the , serves as an advisor for MSUās Biomedical Engineering Association in which Robinson is serving this year as vice president. As the universityās Presidential Scholarship Mentor, Shaffer has become a strong role model in Robinsonās life.
āBeing selected as a Rhodes finalist indicates that the Rhodes Trustās reviewers saw in Christopher the qualities they expect in a Rhodes Scholarāoutstanding intellect, character, leadership and commitment to service,ā Hoffman said. āOn top of that, they clearly saw his potential for making a difference and creating positive change in the world. We are so incredibly proud of him.ā
Learn more about MSUās Shackouls Honors College at ; Bagley College of Engineering, ; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, .
Ļć½¶Ö±²„is Mississippiās leading university, available online at .