Mount A's 47th Rhodes Scholar

Congratulations to Dara MacDonald, Mount A's 47th Rhodes Scholar!

What do you get when you combine a multi-linguist, a student politician, and a figure skater from Halifax, NS?

You get Dara MacDonald — Mount Allison University's 47th Rhodes Scholar!

Dara is headed to the University of Oxford next fall with a full scholarship to pursue a Master’s of Philosophy in Development Studies.

Dara, who is the Vice-President Academic Affairs of Mount Allison’s Students’ Administrative Council (SAC), says, “It is taking a bit of time for the news to sink in. I’m very excited about the opportunity and honoured to be chosen as a Rhodes Scholar. I am really looking forward to pursuing research through the Development Studies program at Oxford next year.”

Dara will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours in International Relations and minors in Hispanic Studies and Development Studies).

She has engaged in a truly inter-disciplinary academic experience at Mount A, taking courses in a wide range of areas such as languages, economics, geography, and anthropology. Dara has also held the Bell Scholarship — Mount Allison’s most prestigious entrance scholarship — throughout her time at Mount A and has worked as a Spanish teaching assistant.

The love of the language also led her to study in Spain for a summer while at Mount Allison.

Dara has also extended her learning experiences outside the classroom. She is a member of the campus chapter of WUSC (World University Service of Canada), for which she served as President for two years, was Secretary-Treasurer of Campbell Hall, and was a Mount Allison International Orientation facilitator.

Dara is the Vice-President Academic Affairs for the Mount Allison SAC this year, representing the student body’s academic needs by serving on such bodies as the University Senate and Faculty Council.

A competitive figure skater, she has continued her work on the ice as well, becoming part of the precision skating club at Mount Allison.

The Rhodes Scholarships, awarded throughout the Commonwealth, the United States, and Germany, provide all expenses for travel to and study at the University of Oxford for two years, with an option for a third year.

The current value of the scholarship is in excess of $100,000. Mount Allison University is thought to have the highest number, per capita, of Rhodes Scholars in the Commonwealth (47).