Jorge Morales, a student of the class of 2026, has been recognized as a 2025 Beinecke Scholar.
Hey there! Let's chat about Jorge Morales '26, the standout student from Syracuse University. This history and anthropologydude is turning heads with his double major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, complete with a minor in English and textual studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.
He's reached a new height in his academic journey, bagging the highly competitive Beinecke Scholarship – one of the 20 students nationwide to earn this prestigious award. This scholarship supports exceptional undergrads diving into graduate studies in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
A Maxwell School Centennial Scholar and part of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, Morales has shown serious academic muscle, impressive research achievements, and a passion for public scholarship. He's already contributed original research to Caribbean history, delving deep into the legacies of colonialism, slavery, and resistance in Jamaica and their broader Atlantic world implications.
Morales is vibing on uncovering the impacts of colonialism and colonial institutions on Caribbean and Latin American nations, cultures, and national identities. To fuel his senior thesis, he's spending this summer researching the lives of enslaved individuals on Puerto Rican plantations. With a Puerto Rican family, you can bet he's got a personal and academicconnection to the subject matter.
As Murphy's research assistant (yep, associate professor of history in the Maxwell School), Morales transcribed 19th-century slave registries from Trinidad with precision, timeliness, and dedication – hundreds of pages of handwritten records, no less! His work has been showcased at campus symposiums and even published in CHRONOS, Syracuse's undergraduate history journal, where he also holds a spot on the editorial board.
Murphy ain't holding back when she says, "Jorge's initiative, intellectual rigor, and commitment to public history are off the charts. He's already contributing new knowledge to the field."
Autumn has Beinecke Scholarship applications on the horizon, and Morales is gearing up for a Ph.D. in history, with his sights set on the Caribbean and Atlantic worlds. He aims to become a professor or museum professional, sharing marginalized histories with wider audiences.
With the Beinecke Scholarship in his pocket, Morales'll have a solid cash infusion for future research. The award not only comes with a cool $35,000, but also provides valuable mentorship.
If you're a Syracuse student dreaming of the Beinecke Scholarship, keep your eyes open for the application window opening in October. Hit up CFSA at 315.443.2759 or email them at [email protected] for deets. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity, fellow scholar!
Jorge Morales '26, the standout student from Syracure University, is not only excelling in his education-and-self-development with a double major and a minor, but also demonstrates a passion for personal-growth and learning through his research and academic achievements. He is using his learning to uncover the impacts of colonialism and colonial institutions on Caribbean and Latin American nations, cultures, and national identities, which reflects his commitment to public scholarship and his aim to become a professor or museum professional who shares marginalized histories with wider audiences.
