From Moorhead to Oxford

U Rhodes scholar David Simon strives to make the world a better place

David Simon

Photo by Tom Foley

by Monica Labelle, Minnesota Daily

From M, winter 2003

University senior David Simon recently received the world's most coveted scholarship. A native of Moorhead, Minnesota, and a political science, global studies, and Russian major, Simon will join the 100th class of Rhodes scholars and read for a master's and doctorate in the philosophy of international relations at Oxford University in England in the fall.

He credits much of his success to his parents, Jacalyn and Phil Simon, his brother, Mike, and his grandparents. "My father taught me diligence, dedication, and humor; my mother taught me to be compassionate, confident, and a generalist; my brother teaches me modesty and reminds me to appreciate my childhood; and my beautiful grandparents teach me to be generous, take risks, and to love," says Simon.

While his academic achievements are modest by his own measure (he applied to 18 highly rated colleges and universities and didn't get into any but the University), Simon's public service achievements are undeniably far-reaching (he also received a Truman Scholarship for dedication to public service).

"If you want to try and change the world when you wake up in the morning, then you do that. I wouldn't consider myself a radical... but it is absolutely essential to question the possibility for things to be different."

Simon, 21, has published a book and two articles in the New York Times; worked as a research assistant at the Council on Foreign Relations; helped the Times Moscow bureau chief conduct research with the fluent Russian he developed during his years at the U and polished while studying in Russia; and served as an interpreter, cultural liaison, and researcher for Kidsave International, an adoption and children's rights organization dedicated to securing futures for orphans throughout Eurasia.

And that's not even a third of what's on his resume.

Simon is quick to emphasize, though, that he is not the 4.0 GPA, 1600 SAT student many expect Rhodes scholars to be.

"Persistence and perseverance are two of the greatest tools at our disposal," says Simon, "and I've used them to open doors of opportunity typically closed to students from places like Moorhead, Minnesota."

The summer after his freshman year, Simon worked as a speechwriter for a member of the British Parliament and used his experience to start the University's Parliamentary Debate Society, raising $135,000 in mostly private donations in eight months.

"If you really believe in something, are not afraid to write lots of letters, and you're just inspiring on the spot...people will work with you," says Simon.

Bud Duvall, a political science professor at the University under whom Simon is writing his senior thesis, cites Simon's "boundless energy" as a source for his achievements.

"He's willing to work very hard to figure things out," Duvall says.

Simon attributes much of his intellectual development to Duvall. "Bud's clear dedication to nurturing students' intellectual curiosity is like none I have ever experienced."

Simon said he's driven by a belief that he can make the world a better place.

"There are a lot of things wrong with this world, and you don't need to be a prodigy from age four to do something about them. I'm not," he says. "If you want to try and change the world when you wake up in the morning, then you do that. I wouldn't consider myself a radical...but it is absolutely essential to question the possibility for things to be different."