7 ASU students, alumni nominated for Marshall and Rhodes scholarships

The Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement has announced that seven Arizona State University students and alumni have been nominated for the prestigious Marshall and Rhodes scholarships, two of the most selective postgraduate awards in the world.

The nominees are Natalie Kerbel, Jacqueline Lehner, Gillian McSheffrey, Elisabeth Baer, Benjamin Ash, Ahlias Jones, and Jesus Vega Ibarra.

All seven candidates have been endorsed for the Marshall Scholarship, which provides full funding for graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom.

Four of them — Kerbel, Lehner, McSheffrey and Jones — have also been endorsed for the Rhodes Scholarship, which supports graduate study at the University of Oxford.

Together, the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships represent the pinnacle of academic and civic recognition for graduating seniors and recent graduates. The Marshall Scholarship funds up to two years of graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom, while the Rhodes Scholarship provides full support for two to three years of study at the University of Oxford. Each receives roughly 1,000 applications annually and admits fewer than 4% of candidates.

“This cohort of nominees represents the very best of ASU’s academic and civic community,” said Kyle Mox, associate dean for national scholarships. “They are not only exceptional scholars and leaders but also individuals who see their education as a means of service. Their ambitions — to strengthen democracy, advance equitable education, explore sustainable economies and expand scientific frontiers — reflect ASU’s mission to pursue excellence and broaden access to opportunity.”

As director of ONSA, Mox serves as ASU’s designated liaison for both scholarship programs and oversees the campus nomination process.

Each of this year’s nominees exemplifies academic distinction, leadership and a deep commitment to service.

Benjamin Ash, of Tempe, Arizona, is completing dual degrees in political science and history. A Dean’s Medalist and Barrett Outstanding Graduate, he is the founder of the State Games, a civic simulation network designed to cultivate democratic imagination and public leadership. His academic work explores how political storytelling and simulation can strengthen civic trust, and he plans to pursue political sociology and modern history at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Elisabeth Baer, of Atlanta, Georgia, is majoring in political science and history with a minor in global studies. Her research on chemical and biological weapons has been featured in Small Wars Journal, where she also serves as an editorial assistant. A trilingual scholar and teacher of English in the Czech Republic, she aspires to advance international security and nonproliferation policy through graduate study in peace, security and international law at King’s College London and global governance and diplomacy at Oxford.

Jesus Vega Ibarra, of Rio Rico, Arizona, graduated summa cum laude in global studies and communication and currently serves in the U.S. Senate through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Public Policy Fellowship. A former intern with the U.S. Department of State and an Obama Scholar, he seeks to design evidence-based immigration policy through comparative study of the U.K.’s migration frameworks. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Oxford.

Ahlias Jones, of Phoenix, Arizona, earned his BAE in secondary education (history) from the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation and now teaches civics at Frederick A. Douglass High School in New Orleans through Teach For America. Recognized as “Rookie of the Year” in his first year of teaching, he has founded mentoring and debate programs for his students and leads equity initiatives through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the Aspen Institute. He intends to study global politics (theory and activism) at Goldsmiths, University of London, and comparative and international education at the University of Oxford.

Natalie Kerbel, of Arlington, Virginia, earned her BS in political science, summa cum laude, in December 2024, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in political psychology at Arizona State University. The 2024 Dean’s Medalist in the School of Politics and Global Studies, she has led voter outreach initiatives for the Ruben Gallego Senate campaign and the Harris and Walz presidential campaign. Her research and professional work center on political communication, misinformation and youth voter engagement. She seeks to study applied social data science and politics and communication at the London School of Economics and Political Science and social data science at the University of Oxford.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Lehner, from Poughkeepsie, New York, is completing a BSE in mechanical engineering with a minor in physics. A former Apple and PwC intern, she has conducted research at ASU’s Biodesign Institute and co-authored a peer-reviewed study on bio-inspired design published by Oxford University Press. Her work bridges quantum science and human-centered innovation, and she hopes to pursue graduate study in quantum technologies and mathematical sciences in the U.K.

Gillian McSheffrey, of Phoenix, Arizona, is majoring in economics, mathematics and Spanish and has interned as an economic researcher at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Her academic interests focus on sustainable development and women’s economic mobility, informed by research experience in Ireland studying the textile industry. She aims to pursue the MRes/PhD in economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, examining how sustainability regulation intersects with labor markets.

Once endorsed, applicants advance to national selection committees for interviews in November. The Marshall Scholarship selects up to 50 scholars annually, and the Rhodes Scholarship awards 32 American students each year.

Over the past decade, ASU students and alumni have received five Marshall and three Rhodes scholarships. In total, 20 ASU graduates have been named Marshall Scholars since the program’s inception in 1954, and eight have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship.