Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has been named the next Warden of Rhodes House and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, a prestigious global educational charity based in the U.K. The announcement was made by the Trust's trustees on Tuesday. Freeland, a Rhodes Scholar herself, earned a master’s degree in Slavonic Studies from the University of Oxford’s St. Antony’s College. In a news release, she expressed her gratitude for the scholarship, stating, "Having personally benefitted from a Rhodes Scholarship, I know how deeply transformative and influential it can be on the lives and futures of our Scholars. The experience helped shape my international outlook and played a defining role in guiding my subsequent career." A portrait of Freeland is displayed on the Oxford campus. Before entering politics, Freeland had a successful career in journalism, reporting from Ukraine for major publications including the Financial Times, The Economist, and the Washington Post. She also held positions as deputy editor of the Globe and Mail, U.S. managing editor for the Financial Times, and managing director at Thomson Reuters. Freeland transitioned to politics in 2013, serving in various ministerial roles under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She became deputy prime minister in 2019. However, she resigned from her positions as deputy and finance minister in December 2022 following a falling out with Trudeau. Freeland later ran for the Liberal leadership but lost to current Prime Minister Mark Carney. Sir John Bell, Chairman of the Rhodes Trustees, praised Freeland, saying, "She has proven herself to be an outstanding leader with a remarkable ability to unite people around a common purpose — qualities that will serve the Trust exceptionally well." Rhodes House, located at Oxford, serves as the headquarters for the Rhodes Trust, which has awarded scholarships since 1903 to thousands of individuals worldwide. As Warden and CEO, Freeland will oversee the Trust's operations and strategy, ensuring its academic, financial, and cultural stability. She will also manage the Scholar community at Oxford and guide the selection process for new scholars. The position is a full-time role with an initial term of five years, with the possibility of extension. Although the Trust had anticipated a new Warden to start this fall, Freeland will officially begin her role on July 1, 2026. Freeland, who represents a Toronto-area district, resigned from Carney’s cabinet in September and announced she would not seek re-election in the next federal election, which is not scheduled until 2029. In a social media post, she stated, "After twelve fulfilling years in public life, I know that now is the right time for me to make way for others and to seek fresh challenges for myself." Following her resignation, she was appointed as the Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, a diplomatic role without an office or staff. Her previous responsibilities in transport and internal trade were reassigned to other ministers. Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent and speaks the language, has been vocal against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A source close to her indicated that she does not plan to remain as an MP until the next election and intends to discuss her resignation with her riding association soon. At Rhodes House, Freeland will succeed Sir Rick Trainor, who has been serving in an interim capacity since January 2025 after Dr. Elizabeth Kiss stepped down after six years. Kiss was preceded by Charles Conn, the first Canadian to hold the position, who served from 2013 to 2018.