Roselyn Ovalle, a senior at Rice University majoring in political science and minoring in poverty, justice and human capabilities, has been named a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, joining the 57th class of fellows selected for one of the nation’s most prestigious postgraduate awards.
The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship offers graduating seniors from 41 partner colleges the chance to design and carry out a yearlong, independent international project. This year, Rice saw a record number of applicants for its internal Watson Fellowship nomination process. Ovalle was selected by a faculty committee as one of Rice’s nominees before ultimately being chosen by the Watson Foundation from among a national pool of finalists.
“We had more applicants for the internal nomination this year than we’ve had in a long time — over 30 for just four nomination spots,” said Danika Brown, executive director of the Center for Civic Leadership (CCL). “Roselyn stood out not just for her vision but for her ability to reflect on how every experience built toward something greater.”
Ovalle will spend her Watson Fellowship year exploring how survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) navigate healing across health care, legal and social systems in six countries: Mexico, Argentina, France, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia.
“This project is deeply personal,” Ovalle said. “I want to understand not just how survivors seek justice but how they find healing, especially when facing systemic barriers or navigating identities that are often overlooked.”
Ovalle said her interest in the topic is shaped by her own life experience and personal loss.
“A big thing about my project was definitely seeking justice for a family friend that I lost due to gender-based violence,” she said. “And for survivors who have become subjected to domestic or gender-based violence and unfortunately lost their lives, I want to amplify their voices. Too often, survivors are labeled without being listened to. I want to amplify voices often left out of policy conversations, especially the advocates on the frontlines and the survivors whose stories go unheard.”
A first-generation college student from Houston, Ovalle discovered Rice through a high school access program and an early connection with the CCL.
“That experience made me want to continue that journey into college,” she said. “Being a first-gen student, even 20 minutes from home, meant stepping into a new world. But Rice welcomed me with resources and support.”
Ovalle has been deeply engaged with the CCL throughout her four years via research, leadership development and fellowships.
“Roselyn is so reflective and aware of what her experiences have meant and how to turn those into a path forward,” Brown said. “She just has this crystal clear vision and a deep understanding of how to make her values actionable. She’s a delight to work with because of that.”
Ovalle’s project focuses on international approaches to GBV survivor support, drawing on both academic research and personal experience. Her destinations reflect distinctive cultural frameworks. In Argentina, a national reparations law supports children orphaned by femicide. In other regions, survivors may struggle to find culturally competent legal or health services, especially if they are also navigating intersecting identities such as indigeneity, immigration status or economic insecurity.
Ovalle said she hopes to collect and share survivor- and advocate-centered approaches that transcend borders and challenge one-size-fits-all policy solutions.
“She’s fully aware of how tough this year could be, but she’s not afraid to take it on,” Brown said. “Watson doesn’t award students they believe the experience might break. They choose students mature enough to take on a deeply personal project and turn it into something transformative. That’s Roselyn.”
Throughout her Watson year, Ovalle said she is committed not only to research but to ethical storytelling. She wants to highlight the resilience of survivors and the vital, often underappreciated work of frontline advocates.
She plans to attend law school after the fellowship, aiming to work in immigration and gender justice.
“Survivors should be met with survivor-centered support every step of the way,” Ovalle said. “That includes legal access but also economic justice, child care, health care — everything that allows someone to rebuild their life holistically.”
She begins her Watson Fellowship July 31, spending about two months in each location with flexibility to adjust along the way.
For Ovalle, the award is not just a fellowship — it’s a bridge between research and lived experience, between grief and purpose.
“Resilience, justice and change look very different. It may not always be in traditional forms,” Ovalle said. “Healing doesn’t always have to be attached to a specific law or a specific program. Sometimes it looks like being in community, standing in solidarity and sitting with each other to have those difficult conversations. I think that’s a big step toward healing and creating change.”
“She’s committed to helping others find their voice, not just her own,” Brown said. “Roselyn will be a changemaker in this space. She already is.”
Video by Brandon Martin.