Sherry-Lee Abrahams
Kwa-Zulu Natal, 2002
MPhil International Relations
St Antony's College
Currently Research Analyst at the Corporate Council on Africa
I attended the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg and graduated with a BA (Hons) cum laude in Political Science in 2001. While at UKZN, I served as grants-coordinator for the Political Science Students Association, tutor of Political Science, and as an intern with the Community Awareness Project.
In 2000, I was awarded a fellowship with the Ronald H. Brown Foundation in Washington, D.C. The fellowship afforded me my first flight and travel abroad. I thoroughly enjoyed the exposure gained in the context of the commercial diplomacy programme and was invigorated by the opportunity to learn, compete and debate with students in an international setting. The experience encouraged me to pursue academics with greater vigour and, as a result, my Honours year was all the more fulfilling. I learned of the Rhodes Scholarships through a poster advertisement on campus. I was overjoyed to be short-listed but had no idea what the Kwa-Zulu Natal interview process would hold – the KZN application comprises seven individual interviews with the selection board. I met with such a talented group of people including an advocate; investment banker; corporate executive; scientist; doctor; and psychologist. Each interview provided a new angle of learning and helped me to think about why I really wanted to become a Rhodes Scholar.
I was thankful and humbled to be awarded the KZN Rhodes Scholarship. At Oxford, I read for a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) in International Relations at St Antony's College and graduated in 2004. Some of my fondest memories of my time at Oxford include attending a closed session meeting with former World Bank president, James Wolfensohn, dinner with former President Muluzi of Malawi, a Rhodes Scholars Centennial Reception at Buckingham Palace with the Queen and former President Nelson Mandela in attendance, and meeting and walking down the High street with South African Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel. St Antony's proved an excellent graduate college and I fully enjoyed being on the St Antony's women's football team.
After graduation I worked as an Associate Consultant with Kaiser Associates, a business strategy consulting firm. I undertook training in London and then went on to work in the Washington, D.C. office. In April, 2005 I received an offer to work as a Research Analyst at the Corporate Council on Africa where I am now based. In my new position, I work to help strengthen the relationship between the U.S. private sector and business and political counterparts in Africa. It is a rewarding position for a young person to be in. I recently edited two publications: China and Africa: Understanding the Growing Trade and Investment Relationship and The 2006 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Private Sector Report . My Rhodes experience has helped shape many of my present opportunities.
Contact me at sherrya_za 
yahoo.com