Jorge Morales, a student at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been named a 2025 Beinecke Scholar. The scholarship is awarded to 20 students nationwide each year to support their graduate studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
Morales is pursuing a double major in history and anthropology with a minor in English and textual studies. He has made significant contributions to Caribbean history research, focusing on colonialism’s impact on Jamaica and the broader Atlantic world. This summer, he is conducting research in Puerto Rico for his senior thesis on enslaved individuals’ lives on Puerto Rican plantations.
“I am interested in studying the impacts of colonialism and colonial institutions on the development of Caribbean and Latin American nations, their cultures and their national identities,” Morales stated. His work as a research assistant to Dr. Tessa Murphy involved transcribing slave registries from Trinidad.
Murphy commended Morales for his dedication: “His initiative, intellectual rigor and commitment to public history are extraordinary.” Morales’ efforts have been showcased at symposiums and published in CHRONOS, where he serves on the editorial board.
The Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) supported Morales’ application. Director Jolynn Parker praised him: “He is exactly the kind of scholar the Beinecke Foundation seeks to support—one who will not only thrive in graduate school but also make meaningful contributions to society.”
Morales plans to pursue a Ph.D. focusing on Caribbean history with aspirations of becoming an academic or museum professional. He expressed gratitude for receiving the scholarship: “It will allow me to form connections with other students who are just as passionate about their work as I am.”
The Beinecke Scholarship provides $35,000 towards graduate education for students showing superior academic achievement. CFSA offers advising for scholarships like this one; interested students can contact them starting October.
