Two Duke Students Win Barry Scholarship

DURHAM, N.C. — Two Duke students, Jacob Rosenzweig T’24, and Rina Sclove T’24, have been named recipients of the John & Daria Barry Scholarship. The Barry Scholarship, which began in 2019, supports graduate study in any field of study at the University of Oxford in recognition of a student’s dedication to the academic vocation and the pursuit of truth.

Rosenzweig, who majored in Classical Languages and Political Science, will read for the MPhil in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at Merton College, University of Oxford. His senior thesis examined the contributions of Greco-Roman philosophy and political thought to the development of natural rights theories in Medieval Europe. He held fellowships with the Hudson Institute and Hertog Foundation, and he conducted historical research for the Bipartisan Policy Center. His academic interests lie in ancient conceptions of nature, justice, and citizenship. Rosenweig plans to attend Harvard Law School after he completes his studies at Oxford.

Sclove, who majored in Political Science and English with a certificate in Jewish Studies, will read for the MPhil in Jewish Studies. Her research focuses on the intersection between political theory and Jewish thought. At Oxford, she hopes to combine her interests in English and Jewish Studies by examining 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 served as the president of Duke’s Jewish Student Union.

Rosenzweig and Sclove are the third and fourth Duke students who were awarded the Barry Scholarship since it began in 2019. They will begin their graduate studies in the fall of 2024.

Candidates are nominated for the Barry Scholarship by an independent committee of American professors. A selection committee then invites candidates to submit evidence of their academic accomplishments, plans for research, and their interests in teaching. For more information, view the press release announcing the 2024 Barry Scholars.