Lafayette College student chosen as Rhodes scholar
Second ever from the Easton school, first to be honored in more than 100 years
For the first time in more than 100 years, Lafayette College has a Rhodes scholar, only the second time the Easton school can claim that honor.
Victoria Puglia, a senior international affairs major, is one of 32 Americans chosen this year as Rhodes scholars representing the United States, Lafayette announced Sunday.
Lafayette’s first Rhodes scholar was Charles Benjamin Swartz, whograduated from the college in 1911 and received his degree from the University of Oxford in 1914.
Puglia, a dual U.S.-Spanish citizen, has studied in Peru, Uganda, India and Senegal. Lafayette said her senior independent study project is on malnutrition in sub-Saharan African refugee settlements, a study that grew out of her previous research in Uganda while volunteering with the World Food Program.
“We are incredibly proud of Victoria,” Lafayette President Alison Byerly said. “This award is a testament not only to her past academic achievements, but also to her commitment to having an impact on the world in the years to come.”
Puglia and the other students chosen will study at Oxford, starting in October, in fields across the social, biological and physical sciences, the humanities, and public policy, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust Elliot F. Gerson announced Saturday.
The first class of American Rhodes scholars entered Oxford in 1904.
At Oxford, Lafayette said, Puglia will pursue master’s
degrees in refugee and forced migration studies, as well as in global governance and diplomacy.
Puglia has won several academic prizes at Lafayette, has a perfect academic record and is president of the Lafayette International Students Association, the college said.
Julia Goldberg, the college’s associate dean of advising, co-curricular programs and director of the scholarships and fellowships office, credited Puglia’s “seriousness of purpose, commitment to research and advocacy and engaging personality” for her selection as a Rhodes scholar.
“Those traits came across just as strongly in a Zoomcall as they would have during a traditional, in-person interview,” Goldberg said.
Atwo-stage process is used to chose Rhodes scholars. Applicants must first be endorsed by their college or university.
This year, more than 2,300 students began the application process, and 953 of them
were endorsed by 288 different colleges and universities.
Selection committees in each of 16 U.S. districts then invite the strongest applicants to appear before them virtually for interview.
The other student chosen in District 4 (Pennsylvania) is Mackenzie Fierceton, who is completing her master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
In this year’s class, Lafayette and South Dakota State University had their secondever winners, while Southern Connecticut State University and the University of California, Santa Cruz had their first selections.
The Lehigh Valley has produced winners before. Namely, Lehigh University in Bethlehem has had six winners, most recently in 1966, according to the Rhodes Trust website.