CHC senior earns Rhodes finalist slot
Valerie Owusu-Hienno, a CHC senior who is majoring in neuroscience and aspires to be a physician, researcher and global health advocate, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Rhodes Scholarship.
Owusu-Hienno, a native of Ghana who moved to Beaverton as a youngster, is working toward minors in biology, chemistry and global health. She also works for the UO’s University Health Services as a health navigator.
As part of her research for her thesis, Owusu-Hienno is being mentored by CHC core faculty Professor Dare Baldwin. Her topic is how to best supplement thiamine to mothers in Cambodia to reduce infant mortality from beriberi and to protect infants’ neuro-cognitive development.
Rhodes Scholars receive a fully funded post-graduate award to study at Oxford University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the higher education world. Framed around the principles of character, service and leadership, scholars conduct research for two to three years, depending on the program, and work to help solve some of the world’s biggest issues.
The scholarships cover academic tuition and fees, and also include a living stipend.
Owusu-Hienno will go through a series of interviews in mid-November before Rhodes officials name the winners.
Owusu-Hienno is the fourth CHC student in three years to be named a Rhodes finalist. Two years ago, then-CHC senior Nayantara Arora became the UO’s first Rhodes Scholar since 2007. Last year, then-CHC seniors Charlie Petrik and Oliver Loreto were both named Rhodes finalists.
As a junior, Owusu-Hienno was awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, given to promising students who are studying natural sciences, engineering or mathematics.