As the new semester is winding up, the newest presidential scholar in the doctoral program, Servando Rojas, is finding ways to wind down. The University of Georgia’s Presidential Graduate Fellow award is the University’s most prestigious fellowship award for incoming doctoral students. The fellowship includes four years of university and travel support. Recipients are recognized for their outstanding scholarship and excellent potential for success in their chosen fields. 

Servando graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2025. Currently, his research surrounds changing immigration policies regarding the US-Mexico border in the late twentieth century, with an emphasis on agricultural laborers of Mexican origin. He will be working primarily with Dr. Cindy Hahamovitch.

Rojas is proud to be a presidential scholar and is eager to represent the history department. “I’m excited for the opportunity to represent the history department among this year’s cohort of Presidential Fellows,” says Rojas. He also looks forward additional professional development opportunities.

In his downtime, Servando enjoys playing tennis. Having played since he was 14 years old, he finds the sport relaxing and “engaging both physically and mentally.” This fall, Rojas is looking forward to sharing the sport with others. He is always open to teaching others who are interested, whether they be new or old to the sport. In addition to the upcoming football games, he is excited to bring the other history graduate students to the University of Georgia men’s and women’s tennis matches to cheer on the Dawgs.