Orthodox Girl Named Rhodes Scholar Says She Hopes to Inspire Other Jewish Girls

Miriam Rosenbaum working at Camp HASC

Three American students with ties to New York were among the 32 people chosen to spend time at Oxford University as the 2012 Rhodes Scholars, including the son of actress and activist Mia Farrow and director Woody Allen.

Ronan Farrow, Miriam Rosenbaum and Brett Rosenberg were among the elite group, selected from 830 applicants endorsed by 299 colleges and universities. They’ll start at the prestigious university in England in October.

The awards, announced Sunday, cover two or three years of study at the school. The Americans will join an international group of scholars selected from 14 other jurisdictions around the world. About 80 students are selected each year.

Farrow, 23, works as special adviser to the secretary of state for global youth issues. He graduated from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., when he was 15 and from Yale Law School in 2009.

“It’s a huge honor,’’ he said of the award. “It’s an incredible platform and profile to advance work on issues that one cares about.’’

He said he’s focused now on the work he’s doing for the State Department, which focuses on young people and how to get them empowered politically and economically.

“That will be all-consuming for sure; it will also be in my mind that I have an incredible opportunity with this,’’ referring to the scholarship.

Rosenbaum, 22, of the Bronx, said she plans to study bioethics at Oxford and will be looking at the health system in England because she eventually wants to work on health policy, particularly for marginalized populations.

The Princeton senior is pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs. Rosenbaum said she was excited about the opportunity she’s been given.

I am just so appreciative that the judges chose me,’’ she said.

Brett Rosenberg, 21, of Chappaqua, N.Y., is a senior at Harvard College who is writing her thesis on the Cold War. She plans to continue those studies as part of her Oxford work.

I’m so excited. I study history right now, and to get to go to Oxford and study international relations is just thrilling,’’ she said.

Rhodes Scholarships were created in 1902 by the will of British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes. Winners are selected on the basis of high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential and physical vigor, among other attributes.