November 17, 2025
Nelson’s analysis in sustainable vitality makes use of her residence nation’s native sources.
A global pupil has made historical past at Hofstra College as the school’s first Rhodes Scholar.
Resa Nelson of Antigua has turn into Hofstra’s first recipient of the coveted scholarship. Nelson has additionally made historical past for Antigua, changing into the second Rhodes Scholar to hail from the Caribbean nation.
The Rhodes Scholarship gives college students a post-graduate award to the College of Oxford in England. Candidates are chosen from hundreds of candidates, chosen based mostly on standards comparable to tutorial excellence, ethical character, and “devotion to responsibility,” as reported by Forbes.
Majoring in biology, the school senior stood out for her analysis that focuses on sustainability in her residence nation. In response to ABC7, her work focuses on remodeling native seaweed in Antigua into sustainable biofuel.
She now takes her place with the cohort chosen for the category of 2026. Some of the prestigious honors in academia, Rhodes Students alums embrace former presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and acclaimed scientists.
“I might not be shocked if we’re speaking about Resa changing into not solely a Rhodes Scholar, however the president of a company or a Nobel Prize winner in some unspecified time in the future,” shared Dr. Javier Izquierdo, a professor at Hofstra and mentor to Nelson. “She’s somebody who is devoted to doing constructive issues for our world.”
Nelson initially hoped to acquire a medical diploma. Nevertheless, she found her ardour for analysis, main her to a brand new profession path which will revolutionize her nation’s vitality sources.
“I noticed I cherished the act of discovery, the method of asking questions, and discovering solutions,” she mentioned.
Nelson additionally acknowledged what number of from her background lack illustration within the sciences, a problem she hopes to dismantle. A mentor to her group, she additionally helps the youth as they develop their very own tutorial passions.
Past environmental sciences, Nelson additionally has a knack for medical analysis, notably in stem cell growth. She hopes her time at Oxford will additional this mission to assist rework the well being of Afro-Caribbean individuals.
“I see myself creating the primary Afro-Caribbean stem cell line, that’s my massive dream that we are able to take a stem cell and switch it into something, after which that can be utilized as a diagnostic instrument,” Nelson mentioned.
As she prepares for her time at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, Nelson has already made historical past with a mission to interrupt much more limitations for Afro-Caribbean ladies in bio-research.
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