Ole Miss Senior Becomes School’s First African American Female Rhodes Scholar

Arielle Hudson

Arielle Hudson, a University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) senior, became the first African-American female to be named a Rhodes Scholar in the school’s history.

Hudson is the 27th Ole Miss student selected for the program. As an education major, Hudson also received a full scholarship from Ole Miss’ chapter of the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program, according to the university.

Each year, the University of Oxford nominates 32 students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom as part of the Rhodes Scholarship program. Scholars receive tuition, travel, room and board and a living stipend for two years.

“It’s so surreal (to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar),” Hudson said. “It’s an amazing honor and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to further walk in my purpose and to represent Mississippi.”