In’utu Imbuwa '25 named 2026 Rhodes Scholar

In’utu Imbuwa, a graduate from Northwestern University in Qatar’s Class of 2025, has been named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, earning one of the world’s most prestigious academic honors and becoming the school’s second recipient of the award.

The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest and perhaps best-known award for international study, provide all expenses for multiple years of study at the University of Oxford in England. Selection for the scholarships takes place in each constituency and is overseen by the relevant National Secretary and their team. Every year, the Rhodes Scholarship for the Zambia constituency awards two fully funded postgraduate scholarships to study at the University of Oxford. The selection is based on literary and scholastic attainments, talents, and moral character.

Coming from Zambia, Imbuwa majored in journalism and strategic communication, where she discovered her interest in storytelling and found her voice as both a scholar and communicator. Driven by a passion for exploring how stories shape identity and policy, she focused on the intersection of media, culture, and development.

“My time here allowed me to explore stories that matter most to me—stories about culture, identity, and the power of media,” she said. “Studying here has been a transformative journey, and I’m excited to continue exploring these questions in graduate school, where I can further grow as a scholar and storyteller.”

Imbuwa’s research began early in her undergraduate career. Starting in her first year, she collaborated with Assistant Professor Yasemin Y. Celikkol, then a postdoctoral scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South at Northwestern University in Qatar (#IAS_NUQ),  to co-author research articles examining the distribution of Turkish drama series and dress practices in Zambia. These articles were subsequently presented in prestigious conferences as well as published in renowned journals such as Fashion Theory.

Celikkol continued to mentor Imbuwa throughout her undergraduate career, describing her as a deeply engaged and intellectually curious researcher. “In’utu stands out for her profound intellectual ability, perseverance, and vision for epistemic justice,” said Celikkol. “Her scholarship is rigorous, her voice is essential, and her dedication to excellence is unwavering. Witnessing her academic growth from a first-year student to a Rhodes Scholar has reaffirmed my belief in the power of teaching and mentorship.”

Imbuwa went on to contribute to further research initiatives, having been selected for the Global Undergraduate Fellowship #IAS_NUQ. As a Fellow, she led an ethnographic research project examining how clothing, music, and social media convey political messages in Zambia, which became the first student-led publication under the #IAS_NUQ_Press, published in Arabic, English, and Bemba.

Clovis Bergère, director of #IAS_NUQ, who worked closely with In’utu during her fellowship, said, “In’utu truly represents what the Global Undergraduate Fellowship is all about.” He added, “Watching her ideas evolve into research that now speaks across languages and audiences has been deeply rewarding, and seeing her present alongside leading scholars and publish her work has been one of those moments that remind us why we do what we do.”

Under the auspices of the #IAS_NUQ, she went on to present her research at several international conferences, including three ICA conferences, where she was the only undergraduate among a field of established scholars.

“Although daunting, it was inspiring to be among professionals whose work I had read and cited in my classes,” she recalled. That confidence, she said, was shaped by her years at Northwestern Qatar, a place that “encouraged me to engage rigorously with ideas, challenge narratives, and ‘own space’ in global conversations.”

One of her defining moments came after reading a scholarly article on Zambian dress traditions written by a non-Zambian author. In response, she co-authored a corrective paper that advances epistemic justice by offering a more grounded perspective, addressing misrepresentations and knowledge gaps about Zambia and Africa.

Imbuwa’s undergraduate experience also extended beyond research. Through her journalism residency in New York and coursework in philosophy, politics, and anthropology, she learned to approach stories not as distant analyses but as interconnected experiences. “What I studied was not abstract. It was personal and added a layer of knowledge to my understanding of the world and my place in it,” she reflected.

Her approach to scholarship mirrors what she describes as the “Arabesque philosophy” she encountered in Qatar—one that sees beauty in interconnectedness. “Motifs of lines striking at different angles, not entirely linear, interconnected yet distinguishable—they represent a deeper meaning of infinity and unity,” she said. “Similarly, the issues I have studied rarely stand alone. Poor education deepens poverty; environmental degradation fuels displacement; cultural erasure silences communities. These are not separate struggles but parts of one pattern.”

Her Northwestern Qatar education, she says, gave her the tools to recognize and respond to those patterns, not just as an academic but as a communicator. From interviewing artists and activists in Doha to building community initiatives back home in Zambia, she learned that storytelling can serve as a bridge between local experience and global understanding.

“People are often willing to share their stories if someone truly cares to listen,” she reflected. “Studying journalism and engaging in research taught me to care for and connect with people whose lives differ from mine. It shaped not just my writing, but also how I see and converse with people on a deeper level.”

That empathy, cultivated through fieldwork and classroom experiences, also informs her vision for the future. As a Rhodes Scholar, she intends to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at the University of Oxford, where she plans to explore development models that center human experience in policy, drawing on the perspectives she gained in Qatar.

“Given the opportunity to be part of the Rhodes community, I aim to contribute to reshaping the perception of the Global South,” she said. “I intend to learn from Scholars whose experiences differ from mine, drawing on their perspectives to sharpen my approaches to justice and policy.”

Launched in 2018, the Rhodes Global Scholarship expands the scholarship program, enabling students from any country in the world to apply. Each year, the program selects two outstanding young leaders who are motivated to engage with global challenges and promote international understanding and peace.