Dr. Tara L. Webb has assumed the role of associate vice president for institutional effectiveness, following a national search. She comes to Rhodes College from Kalamazoo College, where she has worked since 2016 in the roles of director of institutional research, associate director of institutional research, and data specialist.

Jessica Kelso, associate director of health professions advising at Rhodes College, has been elected as the new president of the Southeastern Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, after serving as vice president since 2023. "I look forward to collaboration opportunities and advocating for students on a national level, which will in turn provide additional perspectives, resources, and partnerships that directly enhance the preparation of our pre-health students,” she said.

Rhodes alumna Giuliana Hofheins ’22, who is a Ph.D. candidate in aerospace engineering at Cornell University, has been selected for a 2025 Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship. She is one of 35 women globally to receive the $10,000 award.

Dr. Shadrack Nasong’o, professor of international studies, has been granted a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award in political science from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. He will use the award to teach and conduct research during the 2025-2026 academic year at the Institute for Global African Affairs, which is located at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.

Recently, members of the Rhodes College community came together to form a team to participate in the third annual Memphis Dragon Boat Festival, held at Shelby Farms Park on May 31. The event, which coincided with the traditional Chinese Duanwu Festival this year, brought together 28 teams from across the Memphis area to celebrate teamwork, culture, and spirited competition on the water.

Rhodes employees Brenda Webber, Amber Lewis, Lance Kimbrell, and Stephanie Chockley were recognized with the college’s 2025 Outstanding Staff Awards at the annual Service Recognition Brunch held May 23. Staff members with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 50 years of service also were honored at the program held in the McCallum Ballroom. Robbie Taliaferro was recognized as the Loretta Watkins Outstanding Housekeeper, and Shundreka Jenkins was recognized as Campus Safety Officer of the Year.

Founded in 1776, The Phi Beta Kappa Society is America’s oldest academic honor society. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding liberal arts students at leading colleges and universities across the nation.

Recent Rhodes College graduates Katherine Buikema, Monica Nedialkova, Maya Khalife-Hamdan, and Anna Rush have been selected to receive Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for the 2025-2026 academic year. They will serve as English teaching assistants in their assigned countries. The Fulbright Program currently facilitates the exchange of students and scholars between the United States and more than 140 countries.

Hannah Meit is the recipient of the Peyton Nalle Rhodes Phi Beta Kappa Prize. The 2025 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards were presented to graduating seniors Hope Robinson and Sana Zein-Sabatto and Sandi George Tracy, director of career services, who is retiring this year. The college presented the Distinguished Service Medal to William M. Short ’71, associate director of library services.

Rhodes College has been ranked No. 10 in the small college category among Peace Corps’ 2025 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. Five Rhodes alumni currently are serving in countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Vanuatu.