2008 Rhodes Scholar
for Elizabeth College.

Elizabeth College has produced several Rhodes Scholars in recent years.
 
Lionel Nichols is the latest Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar for 2008.

Lionel Nichols is the Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar for 2008. He was a student at Elizabeth College during 1999 and 2000. This scholarship covers all expenses towards two years of study at the Oxford University It also provides the possibility of renewal for a third year.
He is also the recipient of the Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship which is provided in memory of Tim Hawkins, a commerce/law graduate of UTAS tragically killed in the Bali bombings.  This scholarship has a value of $10,000 and return tickets to undertake a six-month internship at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
Lionel graduated from the University of Tasmania with: Law (1st Class Honours), Arts (Majors in Political Science and Philosophy) and a Masters of International Politics.
 
At Oxford he will be studying the Bachelor of Civil Laws (BCL) in his first year and Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) in his second year.  His areas of study will be studying International Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law.
 
During Lionel’s time at Elizabeth College he was a member of the yearbook team, the debating team, the chess team and had the dubious honour of being a member of “Negative Potential” (the mixed netball team).  He participated in UNYA, the Youth Parliament and the Economics Challenge at the University. He has fond memories of his time at Elizabeth College and has made particular mention of the excellent teaching staff. 
 
Abhishek Sharma was Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar for 2006. He was dux of Elizabeth College in 1998.
 
Abhishek studied medicine at the University of Tasmania, graduating with Honours in 2004. He is spending eight years at Oxford University studying surgery. Abhishek speaks in fond terms of his time at Elizabeth College.
On a recent visit to his alma mater he spoke with some of our current students about medicine and the joys and challenges of following this pathway at University. He was also keen to see the completed building redevelopments at the College. Abhishek is a young man who relates well with others and is proud of the start given to him by his experiences at Elizabeth College.

 
David Close was a student at Elizabeth College in 1995 and 1996. David attended the University of Tasmania from 1997 to 2000 where he completed a B.Sc. in Geology and Honours in Geophysics. In 2000 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study for up to 3 years at Oxford University. While at Oxford, David completed a D.Phil. (Ph.D. for the rest of the world) in Marine Geology and Geophysics on the continental margin of East Antarctica. 
David is now a Field Engineer with Schlumberger, an Oilfield Services company, based in Reynosa, Northern Mexico. Since starting with Schlumberger in September 2005, David has spent time in Houston (Texas), Tulsa (Oklahoma), and Airdrie (Canada) in training.
David hopes to pursue a career in the energy industry and eventually return to Australia.
                                                                        
Susan Dando was Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar in 1999. She was a student at Elizabeth College in 1991 and 1992. In 1998 Susan graduated with First Class Honours in Political Science and Law. She was also awarded a University Medal. At Oxford, Susan studied Environmental Law and was awarded a doctorate in International Law. While at Oxford ,Susan also completed her MBA. She is currently working for Boston Consultancy, the second biggest consultancy firm in the world. Earlier this year she was invited to attend an International Business Women’s Conference in Singapore.
 
Dorothy Steane was a student at Elizabeth College in 1982 and 1983. For the past ten years she has worked as a research fellow at the University of Tasmania, specialising in forest genetics.  After completing her studies at Elizabeth College, she took a year out to travel Australia and to decide where best to focus her energies in future study.  Inspired by the natural biodiversity across Australia, she returned to Hobart to study botany and biochemistry at the University of Tasmania.  In 1989, Dorothy obtained an honours degree from the University of Melbourne. 
 
In 1991 she was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for Tasmania which allowed her to study molecular systematics under some of the world’s leading plant taxonomists at Oxford University.  Oxford offered many wonderful opportunities, such as studying the collections at the Kew Herbarium (Kew Gardens), using ancient botanical texts from one of the world’s best libraries, doing field work in Kenya and Tanzania, undertaking molecular genetic research in a leading laboratory at the University of Colorado at Boulder (USA) and, of course, learning to row (which remains one of her favourite pastimes. After completing her doctoral thesis in 1995 (which, incidentally, won a prize from the Royal Society of London), she returned to Tasmania to take up a position with the University of Tasmania, to enjoy the lifestyle of her unique island home and to raise a family.
 
Looking back on her time at Elizabeth College, Dr Steane appreciates the freedom she felt at Elizabeth College. It was a happy time, during which she could extend her interests that had developed at high school, and explore new subjects that she had not studied previously.  She also remembers with gratitude a number of excellent teachers at Elizabeth College who were instrumental in her decision to study biology as a profession, to learn foreign languages for fun, and to appreciate the many different forms of art and music.
 
Michael Wagg was a student at Elizabeth College in 1972. After matriculating from College, Michael studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Tasmania, before travelling to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in 1977.
At Oxford Michael completed his doctorate in Telecommunications Engineering.
 
On his return to Australia his first job was with Aussat. He is now CEO of new programs at Optus and is based in Sydney. Michael played hockey while at college and at university and still competes in the veteran’s competition in Sydney. He enjoys travelling and spending time with his family.