Francesca Mnenula '26 Named 2027 Rhodes Scholar-Elect for the BLMNS Region, Southern Africa
When Francesca Mnenula ’26 arrived at St. Lawrence from Malawi, she was still figuring out what direction her education might take her. Now, she’s bound for the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar in 2027.
Mnenula has been named a 2027 Rhodes Scholar-Elect, earning one of the world’s most prestigious postgraduate scholarships. Selected through the Southern Africa constituency and the BLMNS (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and eSwatini) Region, she intends to pursue graduate study at Oxford in Statistical Science and Social Data Science.
For Mnenula, the opportunity is another step toward a larger goal: using the power of data to help address complex challenges in her home country and beyond.
Originally from Lilongwe, Malawi, Mnenula graduated summa cum laude from St. Lawrence in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Data Science with honors and Economics. She is currently a Data Science Assistant with the World Bank Group’s Corporate Finance Unit in Washington, D.C., where she supports financial modeling and data analytics. Her long-term interests include applying data science to development challenges in Malawi, particularly in agriculture.
Applying Data Science to Real-World Challenge
That combination of quantitative skill and a desire to put it to work on consequential human problems was already evident during her time at St. Lawrence.
For her honors thesis, Mnenula explored how machine learning and image-based methods could be used to estimate wind patterns from the orientation of grass. The research contributed to a larger effort examining how traditional ecological knowledge might be adapted amid environmental change in Savoonga, Alaska.
Mnenula distinguished herself across disciplines at St. Lawrence. She received the Charbern Fund Scholarship, which recognizes outstanding academic performance by a junior economics major, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She also served as a mentor in the Peterson Quantitative Resource Center, helping fellow students in both data science and economics.
“I’ve had the privilege of watching Francesca grow from a student still exploring where her interests might take her into an exceptionally confident and independent scholar,” says faculty mentor Ivan Ramler, associate professor and the Jack and Sylvia Burry Chair in Statistics. “Her honors thesis captured so much of what makes her special: she took on a unique, interdisciplinary problem and brought curiosity, creativity, and persistence to figuring out how data science could help address it. I’m incredibly proud of everything she has accomplished, and I’m excited to see where her talents and sense of purpose take her next.”
How St. Lawrence Helped Shape a Rhodes Scholar
Mnenula’s St. Lawrence experience extended well beyond the classroom. She was a Davis United World College Scholar, served as a Community Assistant, studied off campus in Denmark, participated in campus organizations including the African Student Union and Agape Christian Club, and completed St. Lawrence’s Peace Corps Prep Certificate Program.
Before coming to St. Lawrence, Mnenula attended United World College East Africa in Tanzania. She remains involved with the UWC Malawi National Committee, helping other Malawian students gain access to UWC educational opportunities.
This award means a lot to me because it reflects not only the work I have done, but also the people and communities at St. Lawrence who helped me believe in my ability to contribute to different spaces." —Rhodes Scholar-Elect Francesca Mnenula '26
"My experiences across different departments and communities encouraged me to pursue research, share my work through events and presentations, and take on leadership in spaces that pushed me beyond my comfort zone,” she says. “These communities shaped me as a person, giving me a stronger sense of who I am and the confidence to bring that person into different spaces. Having professors, supervisors, and peers trust me with these opportunities taught me to take my ideas seriously and put myself forward. I think that confidence, alongside the academic and research skills I developed at St. Lawrence, has prepared me well for the next chapter of my journey.”
The Rhodes Scholarship supports exceptional students from around the world in pursuing postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. Over 100 Rhodes Scholarships are awarded each year globally; ten of which are for award in the Southern Africa constituency. Following a rigorous application, shortlisting and interview process, Mnenula was one of seven finalists interviewed in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sept. 18 and 19 by the BLMNS Regional Selection Committee. She was the committee’s unanimous choice and awarded the BLMNS Rhodes Scholarship for Southern Africa, 2027.
