Rodney Wells – a fourth-year student majoring in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences – was selected as one of the inaugural Future Leaders in Law Fellows at Harvard Law School.
The Future Leaders in Law Program, in collaboration with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, brings together students from different lived experiences for a weeklong fellowship to help prepare them for law school applications. The program’s mission is to nurture early talent and foster a deep passion for law within them.
“Through this program, I have gained valuable insights into law school and the legal field,” Wells said. “I am excited about the prospects this opportunity has opened up for me to make meaningful contributions to the pursuit of civil rights.”
Wells is one of 35 program participants chosen out of an application pool of over 700.
He chose to attend Florida State because of the University’s commitment to values such as mutual respect, accountability, and excellence. FSU has helped Wells broaden his worldview and take on new perspectives.
“I was eager to explore new viewpoints and expand my horizons, be it through academic programs, embracing student diversity, or actively engaging in campus leadership opportunities,” Wells said. “I believe that this approach helped break down barriers to progress and fosters personal growth.”
He earned the prestigious accomplishment of being named a Rhodes Scholar finalist in 2024. Wells’ journey as a Rhodes finalist began in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, where he founded a nonprofit focused on fostering civil discourse. At Florida State, he has continued his community involvement as a student leader and served as student body vice president during his junior year.
Wells has been involved in several student organizations on campus. With SGA, he spearheaded comprehensive plans to ensure high student voter turnout in the 2022 midterm elections. FSU ultimately had the second highest turnout in the nation, partially due to the efforts of Wells and others involved on the project.
After graduating in Spring 2025, Wells will attend Yale Law School.
To learn more about FSU’s Interdisciplinary Social Sciences program, visit coss.fsu.edu/iss.