Jorge Morales ’26, a double major in history and anthropology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with a minor in English and textual studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded the highly competitive Beinecke Scholarship.
Morales is one of only 20 students nationwide to receive this prestigious award, which supports exceptional undergraduates in their pursuit of graduate studies in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
A Maxwell School Centennial Scholar and member of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, Morales has distinguished himself through his academic excellence, research achievements and commitment to public scholarship. He has already contributed original research to the field of Caribbean history, focusing on the legacies of colonialism, slavery and resistance in Jamaica and the corresponding implications for the broader Atlantic world.
“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,” says Morales, who is spending the summer conducting research in Puerto Rico to gain insights into the lives of enslaved individuals on Puerto Rican plantations for his senior thesis. “My family being Puerto Rican, I am especially interested in understanding the development of Puerto Rico and of Puerto Rican national identity, and it is this interest, and my experiences working with Dr. Tessa Murphy, which informs my current research.”
As a research assistant to Murphy, associate professor of history in the Maxwell School, Morales helped transcribe 19th-century slave registries from Trinidad, working with exceptional attention to detail, timeliness and conscientiousness to transcribe hundreds of pages of handwritten records. His work has been presented at numerous campus symposiums and published in CHRONOS, the University’s undergraduate history journal, where he also serves on the editorial board.
“Jorge is committed to drawing on his personal and professional interest to pursue a Ph.D. and academic career in history,” says Murphy. “His initiative, intellectual rigor and commitment to public history are extraordinary. He is already contributing new knowledge to the field.”
Morales’ application was supported by the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA), where he worked closely with Director Jolynn Parker. “Jorge combines intellectual seriousness with warmth, humility and a deep sense of purpose,” Parker says. “He is exactly the kind of scholar the Beinecke Foundation seeks to support—one who is poised to thrive in graduate school and become a leader in his academic field.”
Morales plans to pursue a Ph.D. in history, with a focus on the Caribbean and Atlantic worlds, and has a long-term goal of becoming a professor or museum professional who brings marginalized histories to broader audiences.
“I am very happy to have been awarded the Beinecke Scholarship because it will provide me with resources that I can use to support my future research,” says Morales. “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 in funding toward graduate education as well as significant mentorship. Is is awarded to students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and a commitment to a career in research or the arts.
CFSA offers candidates advising and assistance with applications and interview preparation for nationally competitive scholarships. The nomination process for the 2026 Beinecke application will begin in October. Interested students should contact CFSA at 315.443.2759 or by email to cfsa@syr.edu for more information.
