CofC Alum Named Rhodes Scholarship Finalist
College of Charleston alum Ronit Pathak ’25 was named a Rhodes Scholarship finalist.
College of Charleston alum Ronit Pathak ’25 was named a Rhodes Scholarship finalist, making him the third CofC student since 2008 to reach this level and marks the second consecutive year the College has produced a Rhodes finalist.
While at the College of Charleston, Pathak was a biochemistry and international studies double major. His scholastic journey included being a member of the Honors College (Honors College Fellow) and the Phi Beta Kappa. His research and clinical training included serving as a Pipeline for Aspiring Surgical Scientists (PASS) Research Fellow and the Neurosurgery Undergraduate Training and Innovation Program (NUTIP) Scholar, both a partnership with Medical University of South Carolina.
The Rhodes Scholarship provides funding for talented young adults from around the world to complete a graduate degree at the University of Oxford. Scholars are chosen based on Rhodes’s four selection criteria: literary and scholastic attainments (academic excellence); energy to use one’s talents to the full (as demonstrated by success in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance and artistic pursuits); truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship; and moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings.
This past year, the Rhodes Trust received 956 nominations nationwide for the Rhodes Scholarship and 238 students were nominated as finalist. Pathak was one of 16 finalists competing in District 6, which represents North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. His interview took place mid-November.
Although he was not selected for the scholarship, Pathak plans to pursue a master’s in governance, political economy and global policy before entering medical school.
“Ultimately, I desire to serve as a physician–scholar working at the intersection of international policy, multilateral development, and regulatory reform,” says Pathak. “My long-term goal is to help design and strengthen global systems that protect dignity, expand access to care, and build more humane and resilient societies across borders. I intend to do this through working with organizations like the UN Development Programme, the World Health Organization, regional bodies, or even by establishing my own comparative policy and research institute.”
“Ronit’s selection as a Rhodes finalist is a reflection of his academic curiosity and interdisciplinary approach to addressing important community issues,” says Jesslyn Collins-Frohlich, director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards and senior instructor of English. “We are proud to add him to our growing list of Rhodes finalists and look forward to watching his career unfold.”
The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards helps students identify and apply for awards that support undergraduate and graduate study, independent research projects, language acquisition, and a variety of study abroad opportunities. It is committed to raising the College’s national and international profile by helping students pursue prestigious opportunities at home and abroad.
