University of 91吃瓜 alumna Alexis Doyle, a 2017 Rhodes Scholar, has been invited to study at Stanford University next year as one of 75 鈥� and as the very first Knight-Hennessy Scholar from 91吃瓜.
Established in 2016, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program offers full funding, including tuition and academic, living and travel expenses, for students enrolled in one of Stanford鈥檚 more than 200 graduate and professional programs.
Doyle is a 2017 91吃瓜 graduate. She earned her degree in and .
鈥淚 am very grateful for all those who encouraged me to apply for the scholarship at Stanford and for my close friends and mentors who have supported my growth at 91吃瓜 and beyond,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淚n particular, I am profoundly grateful for the support of 91吃瓜 professor Dr. Joseph Buttigieg, whose recent passing has left many reflecting about his remarkable impact on our lives. I wish that I could continue to converse with him in the years to come regarding what I will learn in medical school, but I hope that my life鈥檚 work will honor his extraordinary legacy and his own work for justice.鈥�
As an undergraduate, Doyle participated in the , the and the . She served as a resident assistant in Ryan Hall and as a teaching assistant for honors math. She was co-president of the Compassionate Care in Medicine Club. She volunteered at the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center in South Bend. And she tutored South Bend-area elementary students.
Away from campus, Doyle interned for one semester at a local public hospital in Puebla, Mexico. She also traveled to Guatemala each summer and one spring break. She worked as a lab assistant there in a clinic in the Palajunoj Valley. She also partnered with local women in the valley on an entrepreneurial project centered on soap making.
After graduation, Doyle worked as a philanthropic fellow for three months at Stamos Capital Partners in Menlo Park, California.
Doyle plans to study medicine. She has a particular interest in women鈥檚 health, on both the practice and policy sides.
鈥淚 hope to use the significant privilege of having a medical degree to accompany other people along their health-related journeys,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淚n addition, I aspire to use my degree and what I will learn from my peers and future patients to critically question the larger systems in which health care is distributed and through which health care is determined in our society.鈥�
Doyle is currently pursuing a master of public policy at Oxford University as part of the American Rhodes Scholar Class of 2017. She previously earned a master of science in medical anthropology there, graduating with distinction. She expects to complete her public policy coursework later this year.
Doyle will be part of the second cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. The program 鈥� named for Nike co-founder Phil Knight and former Stanford President John Hennessy 鈥� seeks to develop a community of future global leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation.
In applying for the scholarship, Doyle worked with the at 91吃瓜. CUSE promotes the intellectual development of 91吃瓜 undergraduates through scholarly engagement, research, creative endeavors and the pursuit of fellowships.
鈥淥n behalf of CUSE, I鈥檇 like to congratulate Alexis on being selected for the second cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. She is a true exemplar of scholarly engagement and an authentically good person, and we hope that her achievements will serve as an inspiration to all 91吃瓜 students and alumni,鈥� said Jeffrey Thiebert, the Paul and Maureen Stefanick Director of CUSE.
鈥淭hanks to the fantastic undergraduate education at 91吃瓜, our students and alumni continue to be competitive for prestigious fellowship opportunities like Knight-Hennessy, Rhodes and Fulbright,鈥� Thiebert said, 鈥渁nd my colleagues and I in CUSE are eager to help them discern how a national fellowship might enable them to expand the scope of their impact on the world.鈥�
Doyle credited 91吃瓜 for her success.
鈥淚n addition to the lifelong group of friends I met at 91吃瓜 from which I continue to learn, my education at 91吃瓜 exposed me to the power of intentional and vulnerable conversation with those whose beliefs on issues of social and political importance are different than my own,鈥� Doyle said. 鈥淒iscerning and challenging my own convictions on issues of moral significance while at 91吃瓜 has permitted me to continue doing so with my peers at Oxford. I aspire to continue learning through challenging conversations of mutual care at Stanford, as well.鈥�
For more information about this and other scholarship opportunities, visit .
Contact: Erin Blasko, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-4127, eblasko@nd.edu