The Barry Scholarship is an academic prize awarded in recognition of a student’s dedication to the academic vocation and the pursuit of truth. It provides full funding for a minimum of two years of graduate study at the University of Oxford. The Barry Scholarship is awarded by academics themselves through a dedicated network of nominators at leading academic institutions in Britain and the United States of America and, as a prize, cannot be applied for. Generously supported by the John and Daria Barry Foundation, the Barry Scholarship is an initiative of the Canterbury Institute, an Oxford-based charity that seeks rediscovery of the academic vocation.

Maria Buscemi will read the MPhil in US History at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford. A senior at the University of Oklahoma, she will be graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in Letters: Constitutional Studies and Spanish. While at OU, she served as Vice Chair of Adjudications for the University’s Integrity Council and President of the Oklahoma Undergraduate Mock Trial Team. She’s also a member of the Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage’s Society of Fellows. At Oxford, she hopes to examine the relationship between constitutional theory, the law, and political action in antebellum America. In her free time, Maria enjoys baking new recipes, reading a good book, and training for the next half marathon in her local area.

Gabrielle Epuran will read the MSt in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at the University of Oxford. She received her BA in Classics from Columbia University, where she wrote her thesis on the character of Darius the Great as represented in Herodotus’ Histories versus Darius’ Behistun Inscription. At Oxford, she intends to research the use of humor and fabulation in Herodotus and Tacitus’ rhetoric as part of building towards a larger project on ancient philosophy of history, as well as ancient emotion (how notions and experiences of joy, pain, etc in the ancient world differ from our own). Gabrielle has also served as the chairman and historian of a philosophy debating society at Columbia.

Levi Freedman will read the BPhil in Philosophy at the University of Oxford. Originally from Washington, DC, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Chicago with a BA in Fundamentals: Issues and Texts. He is also an alumnus of Deep Springs College. His academic interests include German Idealism, existential phenomenology, and the relationship between philosophy and the arts. While at Chicago, he taught civics to middle school students on the South Side. He has worked as a high school teacher in rural Wisconsin, teaching both calculus and English. Outside of the classroom, Levi enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, and reading poetry.

Isabella Griepp will read the MPhil in Theology (Ecclesiastical History) at the University of Oxford. She plans to focus her thesis on evangelical women in the 18th and 19th centuries and their impact on society. She is a senior at Stanford University majoring in Classics, specializing in Ancient History, and double minoring in Data Science and Modern Languages (Spanish and Russian). During her time at Stanford, Isabella served as a leader in Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, the Society for International Affairs at Stanford (SIAS), and Scholars of Finance. She also interned in the Office of Condoleezza Rice, where her research on school choice was used to create an interactive map for the Hoover Institution. During her time as a staff writer for the Stanford Review, she published articles on faith and campus life. A lifelong competitor, she was thrilled to race as a scholar All-American for Stanford’s alpine ski team. Isabella is a coffee aficionado, language lover, avid traveler, and she is deeply passionate about literature. She looks forward to exploring all this and more while in the UK. 

Paul A. Guajardo will read the MSt in Global and Imperial History at the University of Oxford. A Kennedy Scholar, he graduated with honors from Brigham Young University where he double majored in English and history. After serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guadalajara, Mexico, he developed an interest in Spanish and Atlantic history, which became his focus as an undergraduate. At BYU, he was president of the Student Association for Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum and helped professors integrate bilingual components into their undergraduate syllabi. Paul’s honors thesis was a translation of poems by the Equatoguinean writer Zankús Mázé Menemádjimol, and at Oxford he hopes to continue exploring the cultural history of Equatorial Guinea. When he can get away from school, Paul enjoys creative writing, playing the piano, and trying new foods with his wife.

Karolina Nixon will read the BPhil in Philosophy at Somerville College, University of Oxford. She graduated from Columbia University with degrees in philosophy (with departmental honors) and economics, and is pursuing a career as an academic and public philosopher. Her research interests include Ancient Greek philosophy, epistemology, and ethics. Outside of her formal studies, Karolina is a competitive épée fencer. She fenced for the USA National Team and served as captain of the Columbia Fencing team. She plans to continue fencing while completing her BPhil as part of the Oxford University Fencing Club. In 2023, Karolina launched “Philosopher Fencer,” a social media venture aimed at bringing academic philosophy to general audiences through short-form videos. Aside from philosophy and fencing, her interests include writing, visual and performing arts, fashion, and modeling.

Shane Patrick will read the MPhil in Islamic Studies and History at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. He graduated from Princeton University, with a bachelor’s degree in Near Eastern Studies and certificates in Medieval Studies, Hellenic Studies, Latin, and Arabic. He is interested in Christian-Muslim relations during the Middle Ages and the development of Christian religious practices in Africa and the Middle East following the rise of Islam. His undergraduate thesis examined a Maronite Christian legal text, the Mukhtaṣar al-Sharīʿa of ʿAbdallāh Qarāʿalī, and its relationship with Islamic Law and with the legal traditions of other Christian confessions. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the banjo and taking long walks with his wife.

Jacob Rosenzweig will read the MPhil in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at Merton College, University of Oxford. He will graduate from Duke University with a BA in Classical Languages and Political Science. His senior thesis examined the contributions of Greco-Roman philosophy and political thought to the development of natural rights theories in Medieval Europe. Outside the classroom, he has held fellowships with the Hudson Institute and Hertog Foundation, and he has conducted historical research for the Bipartisan Policy Center. Jacob is interested in ancient conceptions of nature, justice, and citizenship, and he will attend Harvard Law School after completing his studies at Oxford. In his free time, he enjoys long walks, great coffee, and challenging books.

Zoditu Schwind will read the MSc in African Studies at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford. She is a senior at George Fox University majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Creative Writing. Her senior thesis, influenced by her time working in hospice care, focuses on how dualistic and non-dualistic perceptions of human nature affect one’s understanding of death. At Oxford, she is interested in studying the history of healthcare in Madagascar, specifically looking at traditional healers and their influence on how Malagasy women understand reproductive health. Zoditu intends to apply for medical school after her time at Oxford and hopes to eventually work in East Africa as a physician. 

Rina Sclove is seeking to read the MPhil in Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford. She is a senior at Duke University majoring in Political Science and English with a certificate in Jewish Studies. As an undergraduate, her research has focused on the intersection between political theory and Jewish thought. At Oxford, she hopes to combine her interests in English and Jewish Studies by studying 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 serves as the president of Duke’s Jewish Student Union. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, crocheting, and cheering on Duke’s basketball team.

Joshua M. Topham will read the MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) at University College, University of Oxford. Originally from St George, Utah, Josh spent two years in Sierra Leone as a religious and humanitarian volunteer before starting his undergraduate degree. He then studied American studies, history, and political science at Brigham Young University, where he graduated summa cum laude. Josh published four research papers during his time at BYU and won a university-wide writing competition. He also served as editor-in-chief of BYU’s American studies journal, was elected American Studies Student of the Year by faculty and peers, and won BYU’s US Constitutional History Award. At Oxford, Josh will continue studying constitutional law, theory, and history. After completing his MPhil, he will join Yale Law School. Josh and his wife, Anna, enjoy traveling and all things outdoors.

Abigail Anthony is reading for the MPhil in Linguistics, Philology, and Phonetics at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. She is a senior at Princeton University majoring in Politics and earning certificates in Linguistics and Creative Writing. On campus, she served as President of the Princeton Federalist Society, Chief Copy Editor of The Princeton Tory, Vice President of the free-speech organization the Princeton Open Campus Coalition, and Treasurer of the Princeton Network of Enlightened Women chapter. She has written for National Review, USA Today, The Washington Free Beacon, The College Fix, and other publications. Prior to attending university, she was a professional ballerina.

Drew Basile is reading for the MSt in English Literature (1900-Present) at Mansfield College, Oxford. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a major in English and a minor in Philosophy. His senior thesis focused on the narrative role of free indirect discourse in Flaubert and Musil. Also at Penn, he served as an Undergraduate Fellow for the Collegium Institute and an editor for the Penn Review. He received the Mellon Undergraduate Summer Fellowship for a digital humanities project tracking Russian translation, as well as the Terry B. Heled Travel and Research Grant for a travelogue following Goethe’s Italian Journey. At Oxford, Drew hopes to blend continental philosophy with modernist literature in considering narrative worlds from a phenomenological perspective. In his free time, he writes fiction, plays Scrabble, and enjoys the television show Survivor.

Colton Duncan is reading for the MPhil in Modern Languages at Oxford. He graduated summa cum laude from Hillsdale College with a BA in Classics and International Studies in Business and Foreign Language. At Oxford, he hopes to study the relationship between aesthetic perception and moral education by researching the influence of Neoplatonic thought on German Romanticism. His senior thesis investigated Bernard of Clairvaux's use of paradox in the Sermons on the Song of Songs as a means to attain knowledge of the divine. Colton has served as a leader for Hillsdale’s Thomistic Institute chapter and as a member of the Catholic Society Executive Board. He enjoys backpacking, hunting, cooking, and film, and is a Gregorian chant aficionado.

Prerita Govil is reading for the MPhil in Classical Indian Religion at Wolfson College, Oxford. She graduated magna cum laude from American University with a BA in Political Science and a specialization in Political Theory. As an undergraduate, she was awarded the Political Theory Institute’s annual prize for her essay on the role of leisure in Michel de Montaigne’s political thought and its greater bearing on considerations of liberal education. She is particularly interested in inquiries of the good, truth, virtue, human nature, self-knowledge, and the question of what it, ultimately, means to be a human being. At Oxford, Prerita is excited to further explore these questions through a comparative approach that delves into both Ancient Indian and Greek philosophy. Outside of her formal coursework, she has held fellowships with the Hudson Institute Political Studies, the Hertog Foundation, the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, and the Witherspoon Institute. She enjoys reading a good novel, learning new languages, and taking long walks with her dog.

Katherine Helmick is reading for the DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages at Oxford. She completed the MSt in Comparative Literature and Critical Translation (Spanish and Zulu) at Keble College, Oxford. She also holds a BA in Art with a Spanish minor and concentration in U.S. Politics from Hillsdale College. Her research focuses on language and literature in Africa, with particular attention to the implications of translingualism in multi-ethnic nations such as South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. An avid traveler, Katherine has taught with the JET program in Japan and served with the Peace Corps in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She writes on philosophical and social issues for The Critic and previously studied political philosophy as a resident fellow at the John Jay Institute. In 2014, she founded Salt and Iron: SeasonedWriting.com, an online magazine dedicated to excellence in Christian writing. She enjoys partner dancing and public speaking.

Gregory Langone is reading for the MSc in Engineering Science by Research at New College, Oxford. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he studied Civil Engineering and minored in Applied Statistics. Gregory has put his knowledge of materials and statistics to work in the Pentagon for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment where he wrote papers on emerging sustainable construction materials to inform political appointees and senior Army leaders. Outside the classroom, Gregory has a passion for working in teams, which he has done as a member of the NCAA Cross Country and Track & Field teams and as a representative on West Point’s Honor Committee. Gregory now looks to serve as an Engineer officer in the United States Army where he will engage directly with infrastructure that affects the lives of soldiers and civilians alike.

Ethan Phillips is reading for the MSc in Modelling for Global Health at Reuben College, Oxford. He graduated with honors and highest distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BSPH in Health Policy and Management from the Gillings School of Global Public Health with minors in Public Policy and Chemistry. At UNC, Ethan was a Morehead-Cain scholar and was awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for unselfish dedication to human welfare. He was also highly involved in student governance and pursued public health and health policy research, completing an honors thesis on the use of data and technology to advance health equity in primary care. Ethan is interested in exploring the intersection of economics, healthcare, and equity and intends to apply to medical school following his studies at Oxford. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys sailing, cooking, and spending time outdoors.

Craig Ruiz is reading for the BA in History and Politics at Regent's Park College, Oxford. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Arizona State University with a BA in Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership and a minor in Spanish. His thesis for Barrett, the Honors College was an analysis of theories of political cohesion in Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. At Oxford, he wishes to continue his study of cohesion in diverse historical contexts. He also has a passion for local politics and has worked with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Outside of his formal studies, Craig is an enthusiastic traveler, concertgoer, and reader of classic texts.

Benedict Stanley is reading for the DPhil in Law at Queen’s College, Oxford, where he will also be the Anthony Honoré Scholar in Law. Benedict’s previous degree was a BA in Jurisprudence from St John’s College, Oxford, where he was a Casberd Scholar, and obtained the White & Case Prize in Comparative Private Law. He plans to pursue a DPhil, which is to be a comparative and historical study of the development of doctrinal legal scholarship in England and Germany (with additional reference to the United States) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Benedict is particularly interested in questioning certain conceptual assumptions in how law is explained (taxonomies, national boundaries) and the implications of this for traditional “black letter” legal scholarship. In his spare time, Benedict occupies himself with analogue photography, computer programming, art galleries, and endeavouring to read as widely as possible.

Michele Szegda is reading for the MSc in Medical Physics with Radiation Biology at Oxford. She will graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she studied Nuclear Engineering with a Life Science concentration. Michele is a member of the Women’s Army Rugby team and a member of the Officers’ Christian Fellowship, where she remains dedicated to fostering inclusive and supportive teams with those around her. Inspired by her parents’ battle with cancer and her service as an enlisted medic in the United States Army, Michele’s passion for learning is expressed through the nexus of her academic interests of cellular biology, chemistry, and nuclear engineering. She has pursued multiple research projects in investigating metallic nanoparticles’ interaction with gamma radiation, in developing the pyrotechnic ignitor for the SPEAR team’s rocket, and in examining the ethical implications of utilizing nanotechnology for human enhancement. In her career, Michele intends to develop innovative, human-centric technologies in radiation biology to improve the effectiveness of current therapeutic cancer treatments. Critical to progressing the fields of nuclear medicine and radiation oncology, the next generation of scientists must be able to speak multiple scientific disciplines, with chemistry and radiation biology being a primary focus. In her career, Michele plans to utilize her diverse academic background and her personal experiences to not only bridge the divide between basic research enterprises and clinical investigation, but to combine her comprehensive knowledge of radiation and its effects on biological systems to mitigate the subversive effects of radiotherapy.

Lindsey A. Williams is reading for the MPhil in Politics (Political Theory). Originally from Salem, Oregon, she graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in History. While there, she was an Undergraduate Fellow at Stanford Law School’s Constitutional Law Center, as well as founder, staff editor, and contributor to the Stanford Undergraduate Law Review. She also belonged to the founding board of her local chapter of the ACLU. An awarded writer and speaker, Lindsey has earned accolades from the Hoover Institute and PEN America for her essays and papers. Her research includes work on applying rational choice theory to judicial decision-making during periods of political polarization, the history of justiciability doctrines in American common law, and the emergence of written constitutionalism in the colonial Americas. At Oxford, she will be studying the intersection of democratic theory, judicial power, and constitutional interpretation. After completing her MPhil, she will be continuing her education at Yale Law School. Outside of her work, Lindsey’s hobbies include digital photography, reading novels, collecting vinyl, and enjoying all kinds of live music.

Grace Aquilina is reading for the MPhil in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology at Linacre College, Oxford. She graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne University with a BA in English Literature and minors in Philosophy, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Her work has focused on the use of cellular metaphors in eugenics rhetoric and on the influence of women’s religiosity in social reform movements. Grace was a Christian Studies Fellow at the Beatrice Institute for three years, where she organized a conference and performance-lecture on the sacred music of jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams. A native of Pittsburgh, Grace enjoys writing essays and exploring historic churches.

Joseph Cobon is reading for the BPhil in Philosophy at Oriel College, Oxford. He grew up in a small city just outside of Houston Texas called Humble. After graduating from high school there, he attended the University of Texas at Austin to study philosophy and focus adjunctly on religious studies and psychology. He finished with a BA along with university highest honors and departmental philosophy honors. His honors thesis in philosophy put forth an updated version of the so-called fine-tuning argument. The intuition here is that the universe’s ability to support life seems to sensitively and restrictively depend on the fundamental characteristics of the cosmos, as if all of the appropriate life-permitting parameters were ‘fine-tuned’ to bring about life. He assessed the probability of the existence of life and the existence of conscious life under the two explanatory hypotheses of Theism and Naturalism. His interests are highly interdisciplinary, incorporating the wisdom of scientific inquiry (e.g., cosmology, quantum mechanics, and evolutionary biology) and major religious traditions, to bear on questions of mind, explanation, and causation within traditional metaphysics. He is committed to the project of fostering a more consistent and comprehensive world theory within which science, philosophy, and religion are in constant discourse. Aside from his research, he enjoys spending time playing piano, lifting weights, reading Christian apologetics, and meditating.

Rachel Gambee is reading for the MPhil in Theology at Oriel College, Oxford. Rachel previously majored in Religion and Middle Eastern Studies in Dartmouth College. In her senior thesis, Rachel investigated the intellectual roots of Humanae Vitae. She is particularly interested in political theology and religious nationalism. At Oxford, she hopes to study the role of faith in theories of liberalism and the ethical questions raised by the influence of theology on public institutions. When not working, Rachel enjoys being outdoors hiking, cross-country skiing, or fly fishing.

Lexy Gillette is reading for the DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry at Worcester College, Oxford. She graduated summa cum laude from Westmont College with a BSc in Physics and Chemistry. Her academic interests concentrate within the materials sciences at the intersection of chemistry and physics, particularly in how the chemical makeup and structure of a material affects its magnetic properties. She has previously worked with superconducting Chevrel Phases and is now working in the lab of Professor Simon Clarke at Oxford researching oxysulfides with unusual magnetic and electric properties. Outside of the lab, her interests include hiking, reading novels, and dancing.

Ella Lubell is reading for the BPhil in Philosophy at Christ Church, Oxford. She graduated from Yale University with a BA in Philosophy and calls Norwich, Vermont home. She is interested in studying ancient moral psychology and metaphysics, focusing particularly on how ancient views can respond to contemporary philosophical concerns. She wrote her undergraduate senior essay on moral education in Aristotle and its similarities to scientific and practical education. When she’s not reading ancient Greek texts, you can find Ella singing liturgical music, debating politics, or working on a cross-stitch project.

Taylon Owens is reading for a Master’s of Public Policy at St Catherine’s College, Oxford where he also completed a MSc in Environmental Change and Management. Prior to Oxford, he graduated magna cum laude from Prairie View A&M University, where he received a BSc in Chemical Engineering. Throughout his tenure as a student, he held leadership positions in the Student Government Association, National Society of Black Engineers, and the Eta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. As a member of the University Honors Program, Taylon also organized the inaugural TEDxPVAMU event with the theme Unlock Your Mind. He believes that in order to deconstruct the narratives in place for Black people and other marginalized communities, we must first do our part by educating ourselves and one another. He plans on using his technical background to address the environmental issues plaguing this world. At Oxford, Taylon is studying the intersection of energy, environmental justice, and policy with hopes of finding effective solutions to this paradoxical relationship. With his spare time, he enjoys playing for his college basketball team, exploring new places, and having a nice cup of tea.

Grace Regnier is reading for the BPhil in Philosophy at Oriel College, Oxford. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Philosophy and a BSc in Biology from the University of South Carolina, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and received the Josiah Morse Award for philosophy. Her cross-disciplinary research examined how mechanistic philosophy informs schema formation for emerging concepts in brain aging. She wrote her thesis on perfection, goodness, and final causes in Descartes and Thomas Aquinas. Grace founded and led her campus chapter of the Thomistic Institute, for which she organized reading groups and lectures on how the insights of the Catholic intellectual tradition can help us answer contemporary questions. In her free time, Grace enjoys reading novels, baking desserts, visiting sunny beaches, and exploring the American South which she calls home. Grace is excited to delve into the relationship between metaphysics, natural philosophy, and ethics, focusing especially on the transition from classical to early modern philosophy and the recent revival in virtue ethics.

Peter Varga is reading for the DPhil in Experimental Psychology at Christ Church, Oxford. Before coming up to Oxford, he received his MSc in Psychological Sciences from William & Mary. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa as the President’s Award recipient and a University Scholar from the Catholic University of America with a BA in Psychology and minors in Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Theology & Religious Studies, earning additional honors in Classical Philosophy, Theology, and Humanities. Drawing on his background as a classically trained guitarist and liturgical organist, his DPhil thesis investigates how emotion and higher states (e.g., inspiration) are communicated by composers to listeners via music, as well as the implications of this process for cultural transmission and evolution. Championing an interdisciplinary approach to the pursuit of knowledge, his past research has examined the role of aesthetics in science, experiences of higher goods (e.g., unity, truth, goodness, beauty) as indicators of self-transcendent well-being, the function of inspiration and imagination in the creative process, the social and emotional underpinnings of the ‘chills’ response to film and music, the effect of social stress on prospective memory, and differences between terrestrial and lunar psychophysics using virtual reality. Outside of academia, Peter serves as the Development Officer for the Christ Church Music Trust. In his free time, he enjoys singing with the Christ Church and Hertford college choirs and fencing with the University Club.

Nicholas West is reading for the MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing at Merton College, Oxford. Afterward, he will read for the MSc by Research in Mathematics at St Cross College, Oxford. His research focuses on using numerical linear algebra techniques to analyze large networks. He graduated summa cum laude from Hillsdale College with a BSc in Applied Mathematics and Physics. In his senior thesis in Physics, he explored the use of pulsars to detect gravitational waves. In his undergraduate research in applied mathematics, he modelled the spread of opioids in the U.S. and the migration of mackerel and herring in the Atlantic Ocean. He has also performed research in signals analysis with the U.S. Department of Defense. He worked on campus at Hillsdale as a teaching assistant and tutor in Calculus and Linear Algebra. Outside of work and academics, Nicholas led weekly meetings for Hillsdale’s Chess Club and volunteered teaching Sunday school at his local church. His favorite pastimes are reading fiction, learning languages, and watching movies with family and friends.

Victoria Xiao is reading for the MPhil in Theology (New Testament) at St Cross College, Oxford. Her undergraduate degree comes from Dartmouth College, where she majored in Philosophy. Her research connects philosophy, theology, and political economy. As a student researcher, she worked extensively with Dartmouth professors on Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, and Thomas Aquinas. In particular, she has written about the theological implications of De Trinitate as a phenomenological text, particularly concerning the Filioque. She has also analyzed Western cultural and political issues from an onto-theological standpoint, juxtaposing Jean-Paul Sartre and Jacques Maritain’s views of existence and their respective moral implications. Moreover, supported by two different Dartmouth grants, Victoria researched twentieth-century Russian and East European literature and twentieth-century Chinese intellectual history. At Oxford, Victoria hopes to explore the personal, immanent, and transformative dimensions of metaphysics through the study of Scripture and its patristic reception. In her free time, Victoria enjoys playing the piano and a Chinese instrument called Guqin.

Kaitlyn Bennett is reading for the MPhil in Music Performance at St Cross College, Oxford. She graduated summa cum laude from Grove City College, where she studied music and philosophy. Kaitlyn performs regularly as both a solo and collaborative pianist and has worked extensively as a piano instructor. Her research at Oxford explores the relationship between music and grief alongside the ways music is responsible for shaping narratives within Christian worship. She also maintains interests in piano pedagogy and practical theology. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys running, competitive spikeball matches, and days spent outdoors with her husband and son. 

Lizzie Bond is reading for the MPhil in Early Modern History (1500-1700) at Magdalen College, Oxford. Hailing from Norfolk, Virginia, she recently graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a bachelor’s degree in History (concentrating in Law and Governance) and English, along with a minor in Political Science. She received Highest Distinction for her Senior Honors Thesis in History, which examined how 17th-century women’s petitions across Britain and its Atlantic empire served as a unique forum for women to access the law and comment upon it in politically significant ways. While Lizzie’s aspirations include training as an early modern legal and women’s historian, she remains deeply interested in exploring intellectual questions across the humanities, namely those which consider the implications for the Christian faith and western culture in the modern world. Also having a strong background in politics, she has dedicated much of her time to fostering cross-difference and cross-partisan dialogue, to engaging in community-building efforts, and to contemplating the nature of conservatism. When Lizzie is not studying centuries-old petitions, you can find her reading Faulkner, having theological discussions, restoring antiques, and taking care of her Persian cat, Prynne du Pre.

Joel Byman is reading for the MPhil in Theology at St Cross College, Oxford. He was previously at Harvard College, where he studied Economics and Comparative Religion. His research interests lie at the intersection of theology, history, and economics. For his senior thesis he studied the impact of the internet on religion in the United States. At Oxford, he hopes to explore the influence and appropriation of Puritanism within 20th- and 21st-century Evangelicalism. Outside academia, Joel enjoys playing the piano, bicycling, and exploring new coffee shops with his wife.

Gabriel Calvo is reading for the MPhil in Theology at Oriel College, Oxford. He graduated from Villanova University with a BA with Honors in Philosophy and the Humanities. He calls Albuquerque, NM, home. His academic interests include metaphysics and philosophy of religion, and his senior thesis was on whether Eros can be considered a divine name for God. He enjoys baseball, hiking, agriculture, and poetry outside the classroom. Lewis and Tolkien are his favorites for pleasure reading.

Denton Knight is reading for the MPhil in Development Studies at St Antony’s College, Oxford. He graduated magna cum laude from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he studied International Affairs and Persian. He also spent a year living and working in Tajikistan, where he built assistive devices for children with disabilities and taught English. At West Point, Denton commanded a company of cadets through summer field training and led the cadet Trust program, an organization focused on fighting sexual assault and harassment through offering peer support at the lowest level. His research has explored the impact of technology on education quality and the effect of foreign aid on rates of social capital. At Oxford, Denton hopes to foster a multidimensional understanding of international community development that moves beyond mere preservation of life and towards human flourishing.

Katerina Levinson is reading for the DPhil in Medieval and Modern Languages (Spanish) at Wolfson College, Oxford. She completed the MSt in Medieval and Modern Languages (Spanish and English) at The Queen's College, Oxford in 2021. Prior to that, she graduated from the Honors College at Baylor University, where she studied Great Texts and Spanish. She was a recipient of the Fulbright ETA Fellowship from the U.S. State Department and Spanish government, and has worked as a political philosophy research assistant and an English and History secondary school teacher. Her research interests include gender and religious themes in Spanish Golden Age literature (especially drama) and visual art. In her free time, Katerina enjoys rock climbing, rowing, and singing.

Emerson Salovaara is reading for the BPhil in Philosophy at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He graduated magna cum laude with an AB in Philosophy from Princeton University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and received the Class of 1869 Prize for his thesis on natural law ethics. Emerson is interested in the political implications of human nature, especially regarding the proper use of technology to achieve social well-being. He enjoys cycling, backpacking, and long walks through old cities.

Allie Trice is reading for the MPhil in Medieval History at Somerville College, Oxford. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in History and English. Her academic interests as an undergraduate were divided between various time periods in medieval history and her senior thesis: an in-depth treatment of the events of 9/11 through the lens of sensory history. At Oxford she will combine historical and theological interests by examining the theory and practice of supernatural healings by the bishops and desert fathers of Late Antiquity. Though a questioner and researcher to her core, Allie prefers to do everything she does with people. She decompresses by camping, cooking, hosting, and combing second-hand stores for hidden treasures. 

Cayla Bleoaja read the MSc in Sociology at Jesus College, Oxford. She graduated magna cum laude from George Fox University, where she studied Psychology, Organizational Communication, and Philosophy. Her past work includes foreign policy research for a think tank in Washington D.C., legislative research in the Oregon State Senate, and clinical psychology research at Randall Children Hospital’s child abuse resource centre. At Oxford, Cayla is studying the interactions between cultural history, social context, and collective identity in the current Romanian diaspora. In the future, she hopes to inform public policy, engage the public in cross-cultural collaborations, and facilitate mutual understanding and empowering relationships between communities. She is a classical pianist and a recording performing artist.

Huailun Chen read the MPhil in Islamic Studies and History at St Antony’s College. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with bachelor's degrees in International Relations, Religious Studies, and Modern Middle Eastern Studies, and a minor in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He is interested in religion and movement along the Silk Road with close attention to liminality. His current project studies Syriac Christianity in Central Asia and China. With his academic work, he hopes to critically analyze the field of area studies and its borders. In his free time, Huailun plays classical guitar and translates poetry (thesilkscroll.tumblr.com).

Romi Ferder read the MPhil in Politics (Political Theory) at Wolfson College, Oxford. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Claremont McKenna College with a BA in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) and Psychology. Romi’s past work has considered questions of access to justice, Supreme Court term limits, racially biased jury selection, and other applications of democratic and constitutional principles. Her thesis established a pattern in recent Supreme Court case law, arguing that the Court has purported to extend speech rights by expanding protections for commercial entities while actually undermining the vested rights of the democratic citizen. During her time at Oxford, Romi hopes to consider these issues more broadly by examining philosophical approaches to free speech and government intervention.

David Frisch read the MPhil in Politics (Political Theory) at St Cross College, Oxford. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University, with a BA in Political Science and minors in History and Religion; he was also named an Angier B. Duke Scholar. He also completed coursework in political theory at New College, Oxford, and in the history of political thought at Pembroke College, Cambridge. David’s core research interests lie at the intersection of religion, history, and politics. He has treated child protection and family law as his primary case study for the critical importance of religious and cultural tolerance. He volunteered both as a courthouse childcare specialist and for three years as a court advocate for survivors of domestic violence. Thanks to two grants from Duke University, he has done work on this topic in U.S. courthouses, at historical archives in Spain, and as an invited Visiting Researcher at the Monash University Law Faculty in Melbourne, Australia. Beyond academics, David is grateful to the rivers in his hometown of Pittsburgh but is glad to be rowing once again on British waters.

Connor Grubaugh is reading for the DPhil in Politics at Oriel College, Oxford. Before coming to Oxford, Connor received a BA in History from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. His research ranges widely across themes in political theory and the history of political thought, with a focus on the modern reception of ancient historiography and Christian theology. His primary interest is in the philosophy of history and the importance of the concept of hope for the development of the liberal political tradition. He has presented papers on Hannah Arendt’s appropriation of St. Augustine and on the political implications of John Locke’s Christian apologetics.

Will Nolan is reading for the BPhil in Philosophy at Exeter College, Oxford. He received an AB in Philosophy from Princeton University, graduating with honors. His undergraduate thesis analysed Aquinas’s reinterpretation of Aristotelian akrasia in human moral psychology, for which he was awarded the Joseph Strayer Prize in Medieval Studies. After graduation he spent a year teaching literature and philosophy at a classical high school outside of New York City. He is interested in the entire philosophical tradition, but his research focuses on the period from the first Greeks through the flourishing of medieval scholasticism, with particular emphasis on questions of human freedom and the nature of the soul. When not pursuing these academic interests, Will also enjoys a good novel, a long conversation, and a competitive tennis match.

Jim Pennell read the MPhil in Theology (Christian Ethics) at Christ Church, Oxford. He graduated with first-class honors from the University of St Andrews with a joint MA (Hons) in Theology and Modern History. While at St Andrews, he wrote his honors thesis on how a Christian philosophical anthropology should engage with modern debates concerning the relation between human dignity and euthanasia, and was awarded the N.H.G. Robinson Prize in Divinity. Jim’s intellectual interests lie primarily at the intersection of political theory, theology, and the history of political thought. He is especially concerned with how theological concepts interacted with the legal, political, and ethical ideas of thinkers of the medieval and early modern periods, and how this history colors the way we think about ethics and public life today. Before coming to Oxford, Jim spent two years working for a law and public policy non-profit in Washington, D.C. In his spare time, Jim enjoys reading novels, golfing, and exploring the outdoors.

Megan Whitaker read the MPhil in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She graduated summa cum laude from Williams College, where she studied Sociology, Psychology, and Public Health.  Her senior thesis explored secularization and religiosity at Western universities by taking the Williams College Haystack Prayer Meeting of 1806, and events commemorating it at fifty-year intervals since then, as a case study of the phenomenon. After graduating from Williams, she worked at a local church at Purdue University and later began theological study at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Megan is particularly interested in integrating public health and theological approaches to suffering, poverty, and healing. She hopes her time at Oxford will help her in this endeavor to serve impoverished communities in multi-faceted and effective ways.

Corbin Witt read the BA in History at Pembroke College, Oxford. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Arizona State University with a degree in Human Communication and a minor in Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. His thesis for Barrett, the Honors College, involved visual rhetoric used by mass media when discussing criminal defendants. His other research has involved studies on public memory and the War on Terror, and the intersection of positive law and ethical theory. His current studies in History are motivated by an interest in the development of the criminal justice system. After Oxford, Corbin hopes to pursue a legal career and ultimately to serve as a judge. He enjoys Arabic calligraphy and writing short fiction.

Melia Wong read the MSt in the History of War at Kellogg College, Oxford, and formerly completed the MSt in Music (Musicology) at Christ Church. She graduated from Claremont McKenna College with degrees in Music and Government. Her primary research interests lie at the intersection of music, politics, and the accessibility of classical music. Melia’s previous research has focused on American Civil War songs, specifically those with melodies shared by both Union and Confederate forces, but with altered lyrics. At Claremont, she received the Brian Walkenbach Award for Outstanding Resident Assistant, the Library Undergraduate Research Award (LURA) in Music, and the award for the best thesis from the Government Department. Most recently, Melia spent a year in Hong Kong as a Luce Scholar, working for the West Kowloon Cultural District, the largest in-development arts district in the world.

Rose Elvidge

Rose Elvidge is reading for the DPhil in Philosophy at Oriel College on a Faculty of Philosophy scholarship. She earned her BA in Philosophy from Baylor University, and her BPhil in Philosophy at Queens College, Oxford. She focuses on issues of bio- and sexual ethics, especially abortion and sexual exploitation. Her wider interests include natural law theory, Aristotelian and Thomistic metaphysics, and philosophy of mind. Her dissertation seeks to critique value-neutral and relativist accounts of sex by raising contradictions within feminist attempts to make sense of sexual exploitation. She is also a Research Fellow of the Wollstonecraft Project of the Abigail Adams Institute, where she co-founded an online journal, Fairer Disputations, focusing on sex-realist feminism. She is married to fellow Philosophy DPhil and Middle Reader Nathan Elvidge and is pregnant with their second child. Rose Elvidge is a 2019 Barry Scholar.

Sarah Gianakon read the MPhil in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies at Christ Church, Oxford. Before beginning at Oxford, she graduated with high honors from Princeton University with an AB in classics and then completed a Fulbright scholarship as a Gastwissenschaftlerin in classical philosophy in Germany. Building upon her knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin, she studied Syriac and Arabic as part of her Oxford course, in order to expand her study of the ancient classical world, religion, and the Near East. She has focused especially on tracing the influence of Hellenic thought on early Christianity and Islam, and on the evolution of intellectual concepts, such as belief and citizenship, in ancient and medieval societies. She is also interested in the history of the Crusades, the birth of Britain, the French language, ancient Babylon, and Russian and Austrian literature. While at Oxford she became President of Christ Church’s Middle Common Room. She graduated in 2020 with her MPhil in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, achieving distinction.

Abigail Whalen read the BPhil in Philosophy at Magdalen College, Oxford. Abigail graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 with a BA in Philosophy and minors in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) and the Glynn Family Honors Program. She also completed an honors thesis titled “Omniscient and Immutable: Addressing Tension in Classical Theistic Attributes of God” and was awarded the John A. Oesterle Award in Philosophy. Abigail is primarily interested in the interactions between the medieval metaphysical tradition and the early modern philosophical project. She especially focuses on the philosophy of religion as well as the evolving metaphysical status of consciousness and time in the work of scholastic and classical Islamic thinkers. In addition to her academic pursuits, Abigail is heavily involved in refugee resettlement initiatives and is an avid rower and former president of her university’s gymnastics club.

Kevin Zhang read the BPhil and then DPhil in Philosophy at Worcester College. Born and raised in Maryland, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Princeton University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with High Honors. At Princeton, he was the recipient of the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence, an award given to the top 3% of his class, and his senior thesis, which examined the foundations of an objective morality, won the John M. Warbeke 1903 Prize for the best thesis in Metaphysics and Epistemology. Kevin then read for the BPhil in Philosophy at the University of Oxford, where he focused his studies on ancient philosophy and meta-ethics. Also an avid pianist, he has performed at Carnegie Hall three times, with his most recent public performances being in southern France.

The Academic Committee is an independent body that judges nominees and awards the Barry Scholarship. Its decisions are based on evidence of the nominees’ dedication to the academic vocation and the pursuit of truth. The Committee comprises scholars who seek to support excellent students for graduate study at Oxford. It is chaired by Professor Christian Sahner of the University of Oxford, and its additional members are Professor Chiyuma Elliott of the University of California, Berkeley, and Professor Zena Hitz of St John’s College in Annapolis.

Professor Chiyuma Elliott is the author of Vigil (2017) and California Winter League (2015). Her poems have appeared in the African American Review, Callaloo, the Notre Dame Review, the PN Review, and other journals. A former Stegner, Cave Canem, and American Philosophical Society Fellow, Professor Elliott teaches African American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Professor Zena Hitz is a Tutor at St John's College in Annapolis, where she has the joy of teaching great books of mathematics, science, and literature, as well as in her home fields of classics and philosophy. She received an MPhil in Classics from Cambridge University (1996) and a PhD in Philosophy from Princeton University (2005). Her most important scholarly work argues that Aristotle’s account of the influence of law on human character unifies his ethical and political works, illuminating what is lost when his thinking is carved into arbitrary parts by current academic disciplines. More recently, she has offered public defense for learning for its own sake and liberal education. Her book Lost In Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life (Princeton, 2020) is being translated into seven languages, including Arabic, Catalan, Turkish and Vietnamese. Her essays on the importance of humanistic study have appeared in Commonweal, New Statesman, Washington Post, Womankind and elsewhere. In 2020, she founded the Catherine Project, a non-profit which hosts serious conversations on great books, open to everyone. Her new book for general audiences, A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life (Cambridge, 2023), gives an account of the Christian ascetical tradition and its importance in everyday life.

Professor Christian Sahner is Associate Professor of Islamic History at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Cross College. His work explores the history of North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia during the transition from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Professor Sahner is the author or editor of four books: Among the Ruins: Syria Past and Present (Hurst/Oxford, 2014); Christian Martyrs under Islam (Princeton, 2018); Conversion to Islam in the Premodern Age (California, 2020, co-editor); and The Definitive Zoroastrian Critique of Islam (Liverpool, 2023). Born in New York City, he earned an AB from Princeton, an MPhil from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and a PhD also from Princeton. Prior to joining the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies in Oxford, he was a research fellow of St John’s College, University of Cambridge. He writes about the history, art, and culture of the Middle East from time to time for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Times Literary Supplement, and others.

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