Honors student Matthew Sellers of Perry has been named one of 36 national recipients of the 2012 Marshall Scholarship to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom. He is the fifth UGA student to earn the award in the past decade and the sixth overall from the university.
Sellers, who is a UGA Foundation Fellow, plans to pursue a master of studies program in modern literature followed by a doctor of philosophy program in English language and literature at England’s Oxford University. He will graduate from UGA in May with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in history.
“The Marshall Scholarship furthers America’s bond with its oldest and most faithful ally, Great Britain, while also advancing UGA’s goal of internationalizing the student experience,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “It is a mark of quality that Matthew is the fifth UGA student to earn this opportunity in the past several years. I am very proud of him, and I know that he will represent UGA well.”
“The Marshall Scholarship program helps to ensure an enduring and close relationship between the future leaders of the U.K. and the U.S.,” said British Consul General Annabelle Malins. “The roster of former Marshall Scholars reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of leaders from all walks of American life-from the top levels of the U.S. government to leading innovators such as Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn.”
While at UGA, Sellers has taken advantage of research, internship and travel opportunities to prepare for a teaching and research career in academia. He became interested in studying literature after completing a research project as a 2009 summer fellow with UGA’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities. Sellers’ summer project eventually evolved into his Honors thesis that he presented at this spring’s CURO undergraduate research symposium at UGA.
“I am very pleased that Matt has earned this level of recognition of his talents and promise,” said David S. Williams, associate provost and director of UGA’s Honors Program, who serves as the UGA faculty representative for the Marshall Scholarship. “He is one of the most erudite students I have ever met. More importantly, his past work and his level of dedication strongly suggest that he is destined to be a force for positive change in society. Oxford will be the perfect place for him to study postcolonial literature and pursue his professional goals.”