Rhodes student Margaret Wakefield ’26 has been accepted into the Academy for Civic Education and Democracy (ACED) held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is a political science major with a minor in international studies.

Rhodes College, for the fourth consecutive year, has made Money’s annual Best Colleges in America list, which showcases the country’s top colleges and universities based on quality of education, affordability, and student outcomes. The company uses a unique star system, and Rhodes received four out of five stars.

The Louise Taylor and Annie Trawick Chamber Music Series has been established at Rhodes College, thanks to the generous support of Dr. Morris Reagan, a physician and member of the Rhodes College Class of 1960. The series is named for his mother and grandmother and will provide Rhodes students with experiences with professional chamber music performers as well as career opportunities in music.

Rhodes College is one of the nation’s “Best Value Colleges for 2025,” according to The Princeton Review. This is the seventh consecutive year Rhodes has made the list.

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.