The prestigious scholarship provides fully funded graduate education at the University of Oxford.
Senior Matthew Tweden is a 2025 recipient of the John and Daria Barry scholarship, which fully funds two years of graduate education at the University of Oxford in England.
A Robertson scholar and Honors Carolina student, Tweden has a double major in public policy and peace war and defense in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences. As an undergraduate student, he has pursued a depth and breadth of public policy and public service activities. Tweden served as speaker of the Undergraduate Senate and has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations and think tanks focusing on national security.
“It means the world to be selected as a Barry scholar,” said Tweden. “My time at Carolina prioritized building an academic experience for peers that encourages them to reach beyond the classroom and to learn through exposure to complex and competing ideas and narratives. The Barry community embraces this pursuit of both academic excellence and truth.”
At the University of Oxford, he will pursue a Master of Philosophy in international relations. Tweden plans to study the modern diplomatic history of the Melanesian islands and its wider implications for international security.
“Matthew Tweden has been a force of nature at Carolina,” said Ben Waterhouse, professor of history and faculty director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships in Honors Carolina. “Through academic excellence and principled commitment, he has made a profound mark on this campus. We are excited for his bright future.”
The Barry scholarship was founded in 2019 to support leading students of the United States in recognition of their pursuit of the truth. Tweden is Carolina’s second Barry Scholar.
