Campus news

ISABELLE ROACH BECOMES KING’S 32ND RHODES SCHOLAR

KING’S SCIENCE STUDENT Isabelle Roach has been awarded a Rhodes scholarship and will head to England to study at the University of Oxford in the fall.

Rhodes defines its scholars as people who have a vision of how the world could be better and the energy to make a difference. “In her four years at King’s and Dalhousie, Isabelle has made an indelible mark on her academic community, excelled at athletics, and created opportunities for her fellow students to become environmental stewards,” said King’s President William Lahey. “We are incredibly proud of her many accomplishments.”

Roach came to King’s from Halifax’s Citadel High School to begin her post-secondary education with King’s interdisciplinary Foundation Year Program. Roach calls it her most formative educational experience for instilling in her the curiosity and courage to become involved in more than just academics.

Since 2017, Roach has taken many courses at Dalhousie University as a King’s student while pursuing an honours biology degree. Dr. Chris Moore, Dalhousie Provost and Vice-President (acting), knew Roach in his role as Dean of Science at Dalhousie. “Isabelle illustrates what is best about the King’s-Dalhousie educational relationship—the seamless transition from exceptional first-year general liberal arts and science education at King’s to strong disciplinary focus at Dalhousie. She has excelled in both contexts, while providing leadership to both communities.” “Isabelle exemplifies the opportunity that the King’s and Dalhousie partnership provides to students who want an education that melds the humanities and the sciences, with each enriching the other,” said President Lahey. “Now more than ever, the world needs leaders like Isabelle who have this kind of interdisciplinary formation.”

Outside the classroom, Roach is captain of the King’s women’s volleyball team and this year she was one of the inaugural recipients of the Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Scholarships for Varsity Athletes.

She is already contributing to medical research, having received an NSERC undergraduate student research award to work in a medical neuroscience lab. And through her work with Shad Canada, she has managed a STEM-focused education program for youth from across the country. Additionally, she founded a group called King’s College Students for Sustainability that is passionate about environmental change. Plus she sings in a choir dedicated to highlighting social justice issues through music.

Roach’s short-term goals are to continue educating people of all ages about climate change, and her long-term goals are to focus on the integrated health of the environment and population. She intends to use her interest in medical research and future work as a clinician to bring health care to underprivileged populations, while maintaining her interest in the environmental impacts of health care.