小黄书 celebrates newest Rhodes Scholarship finalist
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 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 world鈥檚 oldest and most celebrated international fellowship. Robinson is 小黄书鈥檚 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 world鈥檚 leading institutions of higher learning. For more, visit .
Robinson, whose biological engineering major is jointly housed in 小黄书鈥檚 Bagley College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is a recipient of 小黄书鈥檚 Lila and Hunter Henry Presidential Endowed Scholarship. In spring 2021, Robinson became the sixth 小黄书 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 Sciences鈥 Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, also serves as director of the honors college鈥檚 Office of Prestigious External Scholarships, which mentors Robinson and other 小黄书 students applying for national, merit-based scholarships and fellowships.
Hoffman said Robinson鈥檚 selection as a Rhodes finalist is a testament to the 鈥渆xcellent鈥 guidance he has received from 小黄书 Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biomedical Engineering LaShan Simpson and 小黄书 Associate Professor of English Don Shaffer. Simpson, who recently was named this year鈥檚 winner of the , serves as an advisor for 小黄书鈥檚 Biomedical Engineering Association in which Robinson is serving this year as vice president. As the university鈥檚 Presidential Scholarship Mentor, Shaffer has become a strong role model in Robinson鈥檚 life.
鈥淏eing selected as a Rhodes finalist indicates that the Rhodes Trust鈥檚 reviewers saw in Christopher the qualities they expect in a Rhodes Scholar鈥攐utstanding intellect, character, leadership and commitment to service,鈥 Hoffman said. 鈥淥n 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.鈥
Learn more about 小黄书鈥檚 Shackouls Honors College at ; Bagley College of Engineering, ; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, .
小黄书 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .