Julia Levy’s journey is an inspiring one. She is the first trans woman in Canada to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
Celebrating Graduates
It’s that Graduation time of year! Would you believe, our CEO Cynthia Sweeney, proudly has three (3) children graduating from schools this year including, university, college and high school. A banner year in her home.
With her youngest being his school’s 2024 Valedictorian in a few weeks time, we are reflecting back and honouring a 2022 Canadian transgender graduate and scholar.
Julia’s story blends perseverance, academic excellence, and the quest for greater inclusivity. It is also more than simply a personal triumph; it’s a beacon of hope and progress for the trans community.
A Prestigious Opportunity
The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1902 through Cecil John Rhodes’ vision, stands as one of the most prestigious postgraduate awards worldwide. This fully funded scholarship provides exceptional young individuals with the opportunity to pursue their studies at the esteemed University of Oxford. With a global acceptance rate of only 0.7%, the remarkable level of competition for this scholarship is evident. Julia Levy’s outstanding achievement, at the age of 24-years-old, shines a light on her exceptional talent and resilience, marking a significant milestone not only for herself, but also for other aspiring scholars who are trans and neurodivergent.
Julia’s path to becoming a Rhodes Scholar was anything but simple and figuring out what to do with the money, she say, will be a life-long journey for her, given the conflicted past of the scholarship.
“I feel a responsibility now to really take this and make something for it for trans communities. And I’m not sure what that looks like in the future. I’m not sure where that fits in. I definitely feel in receiving this scholarship that it has really clarified for me a mission to make something good with it.
And I think especially because the Rhodes Scholarship does have like a really awful past, you know, I don’t think Cecil Rhodes is a particularly good person. You know, it has it has a racist history. It has a sexist history. It has a colonial history and extremely colonial history. This scholarship is going to be a lifelong journey of figuring out what do I make with that money that has this sort of history and how do I make something good out of it?”
After Julia’s initial application and securing a university nomination, she found herself in a whirlwind of interviews and adjudicator meetings. Julia recalls the intense anticipation and self-doubt, convinced she hadn’t made the cut. However, the news of her selection brought a wave of elation and disbelief.
As the first trans woman Rhodes Scholar from Canada, Julia’s achievement Is monumental. Shining a spotlight on the importance of representation within prestigious academic circles, particularly for trans women, her success inspires confidence that adversity does not prevent you from reaching the pinnacle of academic excellence.
An Academic and Advocacy Trailblazer
Julia graduated with honors in chemistry and a minor in visual arts from the University of Victoria (UVic) on Vancouver Island, Canada. Her academic pursuits are diverse and reflect her commitment to making education more inclusive and effective. With experience spanning theoretical and computational chemistry, education, digital, and social change, she aims to develop educational software to enhance learning outcomes for students of all backgrounds.
Addressing the Opioid Crisis
Julia’s work extends beyond academics into harm reduction, especially in the context of the opioid crisis in British Columbia. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted drug supply chains, leading to a surge in fentanyl-laced substances. In conversation with Hey, Cis! podcast hosts, Cyn Sweeney and Isaac Cook, Julia emphasizes the critical need for drug testing to ensure the safety of these substances. Her goal is to establish rigorous testing protocols to verify the contents of substances used for self-medication, promoting both individual health and community safety.
The intersection of trans healthcare and harm reduction is another critical area of Julia’s focus. The UK’s healthcare system, with its long waiting periods for trans-specific care, often drives individuals to self-medicate with hormones obtained through informal channels. Julia uses her chemistry expertise to develop reliable testing methods, ensuring the safety of these substances.
Future Directions and Collaboration
Julia anticipates that fentanyl’s presence will expand globally, stressing the need for proactive measures and international collaboration to mitigate this crisis. She aims to foster collaboration between universities and harm reduction groups in the UK, combining academic research with grassroots efforts to create comprehensive and effective harm reduction strategies.
As Julia embarks on her journey to Oxford, she remains steadfast in her commitment to advocating for both trans healthcare and harm reduction. Her dual focus on these areas exemplifies the potential for scientific expertise to drive social change. Julia encourages others to follow her work through her newly created LinkedIn profile, recognizing the importance of community engagement in her advocacy efforts.
Julia Levy’s journey as the first trans woman Rhodes Scholar from Canada is a powerful testament to resilience, representation, and the potential for positive change. Her story underscores the importance of inclusivity in academia and the broader social impact of individual achievements. As Julia prepares to begin her studies at Oxford, her commitment to advocacy and academic excellence promises to leave a lasting legacy.
Listen to the full conversation with Canadian Chemist, Julia on Spotify or visit Hey, Cis! podcast website.
About Hey, Cis!
Hosts Cyn and Isaac give arts, culture, doers & dreamers a beyond binary twist in this Atlantic Canadian conversational talk show; breaking down cis-normative bias, smashing stigma, and fostering a greater connection between cisgender and trans, and non-binary communities.
Season 3 of Hey, Cis! podcast was in partnership with TD Bank Group.
