Dr. Geoff Bakewell, professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Rhodes College, has been appointed inaugural holder of the Brian D. Joseph Endowed Chair in Classics at the College Year in Athens. His three-year (visiting) term begins Sept. 1, 2026.

The highly anticipated Rhodes Giving Day was held April 8, and this year’s event met its goal of reaching 1,000 donors in just one day. The campaign received 1,003 gifts and raised $272,890, highlighting the commitment and passion of supporters.

Dr. Scott Newstok, professor of English and executive director of the Spence Wilson Center for Interdisciplinary Humanities at Rhodes College, has been awarded a four-year grant from the State Research Agency of Spain. This award will support his scholarship on the multilingual heritage of early modern English across legal, religious, political, and literary discourses. Newstok’s project was one of 37 funded among 254 applications; in the three-year history of Spain’s research program, he is the second recipient who works in the humanities, and the only recipient from a liberal arts college.

For Ariyana Muesse ’26, journalism is more than writing—it is a way of connecting people, stories, and communities. A political science and international studies bridge major, Muesse is also pursuing minors in both English and film and media studies; by combining her academic interests with the Journalism Certificate at Rhodes, she is finding a path that blends communication, media, and global awareness.

Rhodes College is thrilled to announce that its mock trial team will compete in the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament, marking an impressive 38th consecutive appearance at the nationals. The tournament will take place April 17-19 in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Casey Shin, assistant professor of politics and law at Rhodes College, has released his first book titled From Nothing to Nissan: Industrial Policy in Mississippi (University Press of Mississippi, 2026). The book provides an in-depth exploration of the policymaking efforts that convinced a major automaker to establish a presence in Mississippi.

Michael Morgan, the director of financial aid at Rhodes College, has been awarded the 2026 Distinguished Service Award by the Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. The award was presented during the association’s annual conference held Feb. 15-18 in Charlotte, NC.

Caroline Johnson, a Rhodes College senior from Nashville, TN, has been selected for the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, which provides a $40,000 stipend for a 12-month journey to pursue an original project on a global scale. She is one of only 40 fellows chosen nationwide for 2026. Watson Fellows have the freedom to decide where to travel and when to change course, without the need to affiliate with an academic institution or hold formal employment. The program is designed to produce a year of personal insight, perspective, and confidence.

The Rhodes College community pledged an ambitious 50,000 hours of service to local partners during the 2025-2026 academic year, celebrating the college’s century-long commitment to the City of Memphis since relocating its campus from Clarksville in 1925. The college has exceeded this goal!

Rhodes Men’s Basketball has secured a spot in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship field, as announced by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).The team will travel to Emory University to compete against Roanoke College on March 6.