Mercer Times

Travis Kanoa Chai Andrade, a 2024 Princeton graduate, and senior Nolan Musslewhite have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Marshall Scholarships. This scholarship provides them with the opportunity to pursue two years of graduate study in the United Kingdom.

The Marshall Scholarship is designed to enable "intellectually distinguished young Americans, their country's future leaders" to study at any U.K. institution of their choice, as stated by the Marshall Scholarships organization. Chai Andrade and Musslewhite are among 36 winners selected from nearly 1,000 applicants across the United States.

Chai Andrade hails from Kea'au, Hawai‘i, and majored in anthropology with a certificate in archaeology. He plans to spend his first year studying for an M.A. in the arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at the University of East Anglia. In his second year, he will pursue an MSc in geoinformation technology and cartography at the University of Glasgow.

He is Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) and has been actively involved with nonprofit organizations Huliauapaʻa and the Kaliʻuokapaʻakai Collective in Hawai‘i. At Princeton, he participated in various internships including one at the Peabody Essex Museum's Native American Fellowship program.

Agustín Fuentes, professor of anthropology at Princeton said: "Travis' care, compassion and deep respect for others and for the 'life of the mind' is evident in all he does." For his senior thesis on Indigenous representations, Chai Andrade conducted research at museums both in the U.S. and U.K., which sparked his interest in studying there.

Nolan Musslewhite from Washington D.C., is majoring in history while pursuing minors in classics, European studies, humanistic studies, along with a certificate in history and diplomacy practice. He will begin his graduate studies with an M.A. in African studies at London's School of Oriental and African Studies followed by an MSt in modern British history at Oxford University.

Musslewhite's interest was solidified during a summer program called Princeton in Kenya where he studied Swahili intensively: "[One] Sunday...hearing me speak their native Swahili invited me to become an official member," he recalled about attending Mass at a local Anglican church.

Sir David Cannadine praised him saying: "I would unhesitatingly place Nolan in top 1 percent...of all undergraduate students I have taught." His senior thesis examines British efforts against East African slave trade parallel to West Africa Squadron's earlier actions.

Jill Dolan commended Musslewhite stating: “Nolan is enormously accomplished...Princeton is much better for his presence among us.” After completing his scholarship tenure abroad; Musslewhite hopes to influence American foreign policy towards Africa inspired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s vision calling it ‘the African century.’