Mac\u2019s first Mandela Rhodes Scholar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bobbie Pennington \u201924 was named<\/a> a Mandela Rhodes Scholar\u2014the first Macalester graduate to earn this honor. The prestigious scholarship combines full funding with a leadership development program inspired by Nelson Mandela\u2019s legacy, supporting young African leaders working toward inclusive growth and social change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally from Eswatini, Pennington will study at the University of Cape Town. The scholarship funds up to two years of postgraduate study at a South African university. He will pursue a Master of Philosophy in development studies, focusing on development finance, governance, and building state capacity to support African-led economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Macalester, Pennington majored in economics and international studies with a concentration in international development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Timothy Taylor, managing editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives<\/em>, was named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Allied Social Science Associations. Taylor has maintained an office at Macalester for over two decades, speaking to classes and hiring students as research assistants. He\u2019s guided the Journal of Economic Perspectives <\/em>since 1986, working to make economic research accessible to a non-technical audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Distinguished Fellow award is a significant honor. Since its inception in 1965, only about 200 people have received it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis particular award was not one I ever expected would come my way,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI am more pleased about it than I can easily say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prize citation<\/a> notes: \u201cSteering the Journal of Economic Perspectives<\/em> and ensuring continuity in its unique approach and voice has been Taylor\u2019s primary contribution to economics over his four-decade career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophie Nikitas \u201914 premiered the newest season of her horror fiction podcast, Out Cold<\/a>. This season follows a couple who, after a traumatic event rocks their marriage, takes a trip up north to rest and recover. But as they explore the small town they\u2019ve chosen, they start to discover disturbing things about the people and the landscape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Two fellow Mac alumni contributed to the season: Ajuwak Kapashesit \u201913 co-wrote it, and Alex Galick \u201908 starred as Lee, one of the lead roles. The team received a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to complete the third season, and the show has been nominated for both Minnesota and Toronto Web Fest awards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Macalester graduate Cora Trout \u201916 had a show, \u201cMise en Sc\u00e8ne<\/em>: Illustrating French Interiors<\/em>\u201d on display in the South Gallery at Columbia Art League in January. The exhibition combined paintings of interior spaces across \u00cele-de-France with historical context and commentary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trout majored in French and classics at Macalester. She created the paintings during a two-month residency at the Cit\u00e9 Internationale des Arts in Paris, funded by the John T. Milliken Foreign Travel MFA award from the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. View the show online<\/a> or explore more of Trout\u2019s work at coratrout.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Macalester is among seven colleges selected for the inaugural National Civic Story Lab Fellowship<\/a> cohort from Project Pericles<\/a>, a consortium of colleges and universities that promotes civic learning within higher education. Supported by the Eugene M. Lang Foundation, the fellowship empowers campus teams of faculty mentors, community partners, and undergraduate students to advance hands-on civic projects and shape local public narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each team receives a $7,500 grant for the spring 2026 semester. The program aims to showcase the vital role of higher education in democratic renewal. Student fellows will produce original media documenting local grassroots changemaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Partnering with the Lake Street Council<\/a>, Rondo Center of Diverse Expression<\/a>, and Hallie Q. Brown Community Center<\/a>, Macalester students will develop multimedia storytelling projects that connect historical and contemporary narratives in the Twin Cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Macalester College was recognized<\/a> as a top-producing institution for Fulbright U.S. students for the fourth consecutive year. Seven Scots were selected this year, teaching and conducting research in Ireland, Spain, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, Taiwan, and South Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government\u2019s flagship international academic exchange program, providing opportunities for Americans and participants from 160 countries to study, teach, and conduct research abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re incredibly proud that our students put Mac\u2019s values into action by seeking knowledge and building relationships across the globe,\u201d President Suzanne Rivera said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Macalester student Kampe Rushoka \u201926 was named a finalist for the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarships<\/a> at McGill University and will travel to Montreal for final interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rushoka is one of 90 finalists selected from more than 700 applicants worldwide. The scholarship\u2014Canada\u2019s largest leadership-based award for master\u2019s and professional studies\u2014provides full funding, a $2,300 monthly living stipend, and mentorship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A political science and statistics major, Rushoka has worked with women\u2019s and human rights organizations in Rwanda, the U.S., and Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMacalester\u2019s emphasis on questioning assumptions, challenging the status quo, and engaging with diverse perspectives has trained me to analyze complex problems and think of tangible solutions,\u201d Rushoka said. \u201cThese skills brought me to this point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Up to 30 scholars will be selected following final interviews. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Macalester\u2019s mock trial team delivered a standout performance at the Rebel-Trojan Tournament in Las Vegas, finishing the weekend undefeated with an 8\u20130 record. Facing top programs from across the country, the team defeated several nationally ranked opponents, including Arizona State University, the University of Southern California, and the University of Washington. Ainsley Meyer \u201926 earned a 19-rank attorney award. Together, these achievements underscore Macalester\u2019s strength, preparation, and rising prominence on the national mock trial stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Macalester graduate Lola Brown \u201923 was selected as editor-in-chief for Volume 111 of the Minnesota Law Review, a prestigious, student-run journal published by the University of Minnesota Law School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHer dedication, leadership, and commitment to legal scholarship make her an excellent choice for this role,\u201d the Minnesota Law Review said in the announcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Macalester\u2019s Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship named its 2026\u20132027 Faculty Fellows. Professor Amy Elkins (English and creative writing) will advance Oblique Strategies in the Archive<\/em>, a project and exhibition rethinking humanities research. Professor Ernesto Capello (Latin American history) will work on Equator Imagined: Commemorating and Contesting Geodesic Science in the Andes<\/em>, a book exploring an 18th-century French mission to measure the Earth at the equator and the Indigenous Kichwa responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vanessa Voller, visiting assistant professor of international studies, was named the 2026-2028 Peace and Conflict Studies Faculty Fellow at the Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship. A community-engaged researcher focused on gender-based violence prevention and adolescent sexual and reproductive health, her fellowship will support a research project on the experiences of Bolivian survivor migrants. The award will also enable Voller to attend the 2026 Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum in Thailand and pursue engaged Buddhism training to deepen her teaching, research, and advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael J. Davis \u201969, senior U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota, received the Judicial Recognition Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The award honors judges who demonstrate a continuing dedication to protecting democratic principles and the fundamental rights of individuals. For more than 40 years, Judge Davis has presided over difficult and challenging cases. The association praised his \u201cexceptional skill, insight, and dedication to fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Susanna Drake, professor of religious studies, published Veiling in the Late Antique World<\/em><\/a>. <\/em>The book explores how veiling functioned in everyday life and religious practice in the ancient Mediterranean, and how it signaled meanings such as virtue, status, grief, and reverence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drake said she relished sharing her research with students, colleagues, and community audiences and traveling to sites such as Roman and Neapolitan catacombs, Herculaneum, and Byzantine churches to study the art of veiling in antiquity firsthand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that all of this research and wonder is now gathered in a book that is out in the real world,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversations in her Macalester course, The Veil in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, also helped shape the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFormer students such as Lydia Bremer-McCollum, Daniel Picus, and Olivia Dimka supported this book project at pivotal points in its inception and publication,\u201d Drake said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Riley Gaikowski \u201929 published The Poet\u2019s Preamble<\/em><\/a>. In her debut poetry book, Gaikowski explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and nature. Implementing imagery and rhythm, the collection uses both structured and free verse poetry to take the reader on a journey while reminding them that ultimately, they have the ability to make a difference in their own lives and the greater world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you or someone you know recently earned an award, fellowship, or honor and would like it to be considered for inclusion in next month\u2019s Maccolades, please let Communications & Marketing know by filling out this Maccolades form<\/a>. For recent book publications, please use this book publication form<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Maccolades is a monthly round-up of the most recent accolades and accomplishments earned by members of the Macalester community. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":875,"featured_media":31483,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[277],"class_list":["post-31481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-newswire","tag-maccolades","mediatype-articles"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"fields":{"main_feature_story":"","custom_image":false,"custom_link_url":"","custom_feature_title":"","custom_feature_caption":"","custom_markup":"","custom_markup_link":"","custom_markup_title":"","custom_markup_caption":"","byline":"","article_type":[8],"post_thumbnail_style":"default","flickr_photoset_id":"","youtube_id":"","square_thumbnail":false,"press_downloads":false,"press_photos":false,"story_title":"","story_caption":"","rotations":false,"maps":false,"marker_title":"","marker_text":"","geographic_location":false,"feature_embed":"","news_icon_name":"","image_options":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/875"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31481"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31809,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31481\/revisions\/31809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A well-earned title<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Timothy](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2026\/03\/3-Tim-Taylor-receives-award-from-Katherine-Abraham-the-current-president-of-the-American-Economic-Association.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHorror podcast earns rave reviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Out](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2026\/03\/4-Out-Cold-podcast.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIlluminating French history through art<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Cora](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2026\/03\/5-Cora-Trout_Show-Announcement-full.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMac chosen for national storytelling fellowship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fulbright excellence, year after year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A ticket to Montreal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Kampe](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2026\/03\/8-Kampe-Rushoka.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen preparation pays off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Leading the law review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scholars with big questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Advancing research on gender-based violence prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Four decades on the federal bench<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Veils in the ancient world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Veiling](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2026\/03\/14-Susanna-Drake-book.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA debut poetry collection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/653\/2026\/03\/15-Riley-Gaikowski-book.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to be considered for future Maccolades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n