Senior Tiana Dinham is Carolina’s 55th Rhodes scholar

Carolina senior Tiana Dinham has been named the 55th Rhodes scholar in UNC-Chapel Hill history.

Originally from Jamaica, Dinham won the Rhodes scholarship for the Jamaica constituency, and she was honored by the governor-general of Jamaica, Patrick Allen, in a Thursday ceremony.

A Robertson scholar and an Honors Carolina student, Dinham studies geological sciences at the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, with a minor in geography. Dinham focuses her work on the fate and transport of contaminants in groundwater and sediment systems and explores ways to harness the Earth’s resources while also preserving the environment.

Established in 1902, the Rhodes scholarship funds study at the University of Oxford in England. Dinham is the first Rhodes scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill since a record three Tar Heels earned the prestigious honor for the 2022 class, and she is the first Carolina Rhodes scholar from Jamaica.

Dinham spoke with Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner after earning the scholarship, saying she dedicated the honor to the people of west Jamaica, who were recently struck by the devastating Hurricane Melissa.

“I think I will be looking forward to some good news because, as you can imagine, this entire hurricane situation has brought a lot of devastation to a lot of people,” Dinham told The Gleaner. “They lost their homes, they don’t have food, they don’t have water. So even just a small thing like winning the scholarship will bring joy to some people — like hope at the end of the tunnel.”

“We are immensely proud of Tiana and this extraordinary achievement as Carolina’s 55th Rhodes Scholar,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “Her deep commitment to service, especially to the people of west Jamaica following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, reflects the very best of Carolina’s mission and demonstrates her remarkable character. We are eager to see the impact she will undoubtedly make.”