Francesca Cumello and Colby Greene will continue their studies at the University of Oxford in England next fall. The two international business majors and South Carolina Honors College seniors have been selected to participate in the IB Oxford Scholar Program and will spend the 2026 – 2027 academic year studying at Lady Margaret Hall.
The opportunity
Established in 2014, the IB Oxford Scholar Program is an educational partnership between the Darla Moore School of Business, the South Carolina Honors College and the University of Oxford. The program provides funding for two outstanding Honors international business students to spend their fifth year of undergraduate at Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) pursuing coursework in the disciplines of their choosing. IB Oxford Scholar Program alumni have gone on to pursue careers in the Foreign Service, the U.S. Court of Appeals, medicine, business and more.
The scholars
Francesca Cumello, from Elliott City, Maryland, is an international business and marketing major. She plans to build on her history minor by studying history and psychology at LMH and looks forward to experiencing Oxford’s one-on-one tutorial system. At USC, Cumello has been involved in the International Business Engagement Program, Garnet & Black magazine and Garnet Media Marketing. She also serves as an Honors College peer leader and volunteer at the Anne Frank Center. Following her time at Oxford, Cumello will join Bain & Company in Washington, D.C., as an associate consultant. She aspires to become a museum director.
What she’s saying: “I see studying history to an advanced level in Oxford as the culmination of a decade of experiences, each of which has built a drive within me to become a champion of museums and lifelong learning. If I could inspire the same in others and encourage patronage of the humanities, I would consider that an incredibly fulfilling career.”
Colby Greene is an international business, finance and economics major with roots in Chicago, Illinois, and Denver, Colorado. He has been involved in the Carolina Finance Scholars Program during his time at USC. At Oxford, Greene will study law and philosophy to deepen his understanding of global legal frameworks. He plans to focus on finance and food policy. Inspired by his study abroad experience in Argentina, Greene also looks forward to experiencing a new culture — especially cheering on the Manchester United Football Club.
What he’s saying: “Through the Darla Moore School of Business and now Oxford, I can further surround myself in an environment of academic rigor and intellectual curiosity that will push me well outside of my comfort zone, which is the point! To everyone that is thinking about applying in the future, definitely shoot your shot. This extra year to dive into law and philosophy is a dream come true, so if you find yourself itching to study a new field, this is your opportunity!”
Applications for the IB Oxford Scholars Program open each fall. Interested students should contact Sarah Kelly and Nancy Buchan for more information.