Ready for Rhodes

Kimberly Rutherford (Abriel Photo)

The summer vacations "out east" that she took as a child eventually inspired Kimberly Rutherford to attend university here, says Dalhousie's newest Rhodes Scholar. "When it came time for me to choose a university, I didn't want to study in a big city," says the Petersborough, ON native. "There is so much to do here, both in and out of the city. I love being able to study so close to the ocean, and there are lots of great spots for walking, hiking and camping."

Kimberly's love of the outdoors matched her love of learning, leading to a fulfilling and productive university career at Dalhousie, and culminating in a prestigious scholarship to Oxford.

She graduated with a BSc from Dalhousie this past May with a combined Honours in Microbiology/Immunology and Mathematics. The Rhodes Scholarship recogizes high academic achievement coupled with qualities such as leadership, volunteerism, selflessness and integrity.

Kimberly is a recipient of the University Medal for the highest academic standing in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. She volunteers with Big Brothers and Sisters, the Dalhousie Women's Centre and the Veterans Memorial Hospital. She is currently working as a teaching and lab assistant in the Dalhousie Biology and Microbiology departments.

She began her university career at a smaller Maritime school, but ended up at Dalhousie, which gave her the program choice she was looking for. "I came here because I wanted to study microbiology, and the program here is excellent," she says.

She was awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) grant to work in Dr. Don Stoltz's lab (Microbiology and Immunology), where she still can be found doing electron microscopy research.

She's feeling "pure excitement" at the thought of heading to Oxford in the fall, where she has applied for the Global Health Sciences Masters Program. The program incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating health economics, health policy, virology and immunology.

This month she heads to India, where she will work with a rotary group. The group will adminster polio vaccinations in recognition of National Immunization Day.