Magdalen College has joined with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) to form the CBCF-Oxford Scholars programme, in a partnership created by friend of Magdalen College and CBCF alumnus, Tony Bishop. This week, President Dinah Rose welcomed the programme’s inaugural cohort. The scholarship is designed to fully fund two exceptional alumni from the CBCF’s Leadership Institute as they study for Master’s degrees at the University of Oxford.
The students, Emerald Garrett and Seth Washington were interns in the CBCF’s Leadership Institute and later moved on to become senior legislative staffers in the U.S. Congress. On the opportunities that the scholarship will provide, Emerald Garrett said, “The training and reputation of Oxford will open doors, but more importantly, I hope to reinvest what I’ve learned into others coming up after me”. Seth Washington said, “I believe this program will unlock new levels of opportunity that I would not have otherwise earned. This journey is bigger than me-it is for the future generation of leaders as well.” Emerald will be studying for a Master’s degree in Diplomatic Studies at Magdalen College, while Seth will study for a Master’s degree in the Social Science of the Internet at Reuben College.
President Dinah Rose said, “Magdalen College is delighted to be a part of this generous new scholarship programme, which has come to fruition after two years of planning. It is a great pleasure to welcome Emerald and Seth to Oxford University”.
Scholarship founder Tony Bishop said, “As I look at these young leaders, I know future of the special relationship is bright and our best days are ahead”.
Both students have mentors based in the UK and cultural study tours built into the scholarship’s programming. They are expected to matriculate in the fall of 2026.