UNM alumna Abrianna Morales named a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship recipient

Abrianna Morales, a 2023 graduate, has been named one of the 32 U.S. recipients of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. The award provides full funding for two years of graduate study at the University of Oxford, one of the world's leading academic institutions.

Morales, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Criminology, has demonstrated a commitment to victim advocacy and policy reform. During her time at UNM, she was a Presidential Scholarship recipient, a 2022 Truman Scholar, and a researcher in both the McNair Scholars Program and the Psychology Honors Program.

As a founder of Sexual Assault Youth Support Network, Morales has worked to address the needs of young sexual assault survivors by providing vital resources and support. She currently serves as a program manager with the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA), where she oversees the nationwide Victim Advocacy Corps. This pilot program, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime, equips college students with advocacy training, credentialing, mentorship, and field placements to build the next generation of leaders in victim services.

Morales' academic interests center on the intersection of identity development and youth service engagement. In October 2025, she will begin a two-year master's program in Political Thought at the University of Oxford.

This marks UNM's first Rhodes Scholarship recipient since 2001, a significant achievement reflecting the university's dedication to cultivating academic excellence and leadership.

"The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and competitive awards in the world, and Abrianna has joined an elite group of scholars who are shaping the future," said Dr. Kiyoko Simmons, who coordinates nationally competitive scholarships at the UNM Honors College. "Abrianna is an exceptional individual who is always seeking ways to improve the lives of others. She has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary ability to merge intellectual rigor with meaningful action. She has shown that scholarship and service go hand in hand.

"The Rhodes Scholarship will offer her a lifelong scholarly community and a platform to expand her impact, learn from diverse perspectives, and lead efforts to address some of the world's most pressing issues. I couldn't be more proud of her and am excited to see the incredible work she will continue to do. This moment underscores the talent and potential of our students at The University of New Mexico. Abrianna's success serves as an inspiration for our community."

"Abrianna Morales is an exceptional person who displays professional poise far beyond her years. I've been extremely impressed by her intelligence, her drive, and her good nature," said Dr. Jaymes Fairfax-Columbo, an assistant professor in UNM's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and research mentor for Morales. "I cannot think of a more deserving individual for a Rhodes Scholarship opportunity and I'm excited to see the positive changes she'll continue to bring into the world!"

The 32 Rhodes Scholars chosen from the United States will join an international group of Scholars chosen from 25 other jurisdictions (more than 70 countries) around the world, and two Global Scholars from any country in the world without its own Scholarship. Over one hundred Rhodes Scholars will be selected worldwide this year, including several who have attended American colleges and universities but who are not U.S. citizens and who have applied through their home country.

For more information, visit Rhodes Scholarship.