Seaver College Student Sean Wu Receives Pepperdine University’s First Rhodes Scholarship
Sean Wu, a Seaver College senior, was named Pepperdine University’s first Rhodes scholar on Saturday, November 16, 2024. With this accomplishment, Wu joins a cohort of 32 other American undergraduate students who will each receive a full scholarship to pursue graduate studies abroad at the University of Oxford.
“We at Pepperdine are incredibly proud of Sean’s achievement in being named a Rhodes Scholar,” said Pepperdine president Jim Gash. “This milestone represents the exact kind of academic excellence central to who we are at Pepperdine, and it also speaks to the outstanding work of all of our faculty at the Keck Institute. Most of all, it highlights the immense talent and effort of Sean himself. We can’t wait to watch how he continues to shine in the future at Oxford and beyond.”
The Rhodes scholarship is one of the most competitive and prestigious awards an undergraduate can achieve. Since 1904, just 3,674 Americans have been named Rhodes scholars—all of whom model academic excellence, are ambitious to create a social impact, and possess strong collaborative skills. Applicants for the award go through an extensive screening process, which culminates in a final reception and interview to determine each candidates’ aptitude.
“I believe that this award demonstrates that Pepperdine can compete on a global stage while upholding its core values of kindness, compassion, and servant-minded leadership,” says Wu. “I hope this opens the door for future Pepperdine students to pursue and achieve similar opportunities.”
Wu, who is majoring in computer science/mathematics and minoring in data science, has distinguished himself as a premier candidate for this award throughout his undergraduate career. He plays tuba for the Pepperdine Orchestra, carries a 4.0 grade point average, and has published 15 peer-reviewed, scholarly research articles—all of which evaluate how machine learning can intersect with medicine. Of these 15 articles, Wu is the primary author of seven. While achieving these outstanding academic accomplishments, he collaborated with numerous faculty mentors around campus, most notably Fabien Scalzo, associate professor of computer science and director of the W. M. Keck Data Science Institute, and Stanley Warford, professor of computer science and physics.
“Working with Sean has been a delight,” says Scalzo. “He makes academic excellence look easy. But don't be mistaken, his achievements are the result of countless hours of hard work combined with an impeccable work ethic. What distinguishes Sean is his true kindness to others, his willingness to help, and the positive energy that radiates around him. He embodies Pepperdine values to the fullest.”
By being selected for the 2025 Rhodes scholarship cohort, Wu has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and leadership potential that has positioned him to make a profound difference in the world. With the award, he will pursue two master’s degrees—an MSc in advanced computer science and an MSc in applied digital health, both from Oxford.
“Studying at Oxford will really broaden my worldview and how I approach AI and healthcare challenges,” says Wu. “Oxford is a super diverse community, and spending two years engaging with other Rhodes scholars and collaborating at Rhodes House will be transformative, helping me return to the US as a more global-minded citizen.”
Beyond the Rhodes scholarship, Wu has also achieved numerous other accolades during his undergraduate career. In 2023 he was named a Goldwater scholar—one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious scholarships for the disciplines of natural science, mathematics, and engineering. In 2024 he earned honorable mention for outstanding undergraduate research by the Computing Research Association—a nonprofit organization that recognizes North American college students who show exceptional promise as computer science researchers.
“We are so proud of Sean,” says Lee Kats, interim dean of Seaver College. “He is a strong representative of Pepperdine University and its mission of nurturing global leaders. Sean exemplifies the type of academic excellence for which Seaver College has become known.”