"Remarkably, with few exceptions, the concerns raised by Black students almost forty years ago are the same concerns we have heard voiced by Black students in the past three weeks. The similarity of our experiences highlights that neither my experiences from over three decades ago nor the experiences of Black students today are unique to our particular moment in the history of the Rhodes. Instead the similarities underscore that there are some persistent challenges at Rhodes. Our students today have demonstrated extraordinary courage and agency in revealing Rhodes’ imperfections and in prompting the institution to move forward. Their critique stems from their loyalty to Rhodes and their desire to see Rhodes live up to its potential."

Rhodes chemistry alumna Caroline Magee ’19 has had manuscripts based on her undergraduate research accepted for publication in two peer-reviewed scientific journals—Computational and Theoretical Chemistry and the International Journal of Quantum Chemistry.

Mariam Khayata ’22, an international studies and political science major at Rhodes College, is one of 20 students selected as a Key into Public Service Scholar by Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest collegiate honor society. The new scholarship program recognizes students with a demonstrated interest in working in the public sector and a strong academic record in the liberal arts and sciences.

Recent Rhodes graduate Monroe McKay has excelled as an athlete, an outstanding student, and a caring volunteer in the community. This was amply illustrated this past April when not only was he recognized among the best local football players by the Memphis Chapter of the National Football Foundation, but also he presented his genome research remotely at The Allied Genetics Conference 2020 conference. His mantra is “The secret to living is giving,” and he says Rhodes has prepared him to succeed after graduation.

The book provides a historical overview of Blacks’ socioeconomic position in American society and in the postindustrial class structure, as well as outlines a political agenda for change, according to the publisher.

Yavin Alwis ’20 joined Prof. Haberman’s lab his sophomore year and has been conducting experiments in human neuroscience and sophisticated computational modeling. Their article will be published in a forthcoming issue of Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications.

On May 27, Rhodes College President Marjorie Hass sent an email to the campus community announcing changes to the Fall 2020 academic calendar, an updated health and safety plan, and the conditions necessary for a return to campus.

Rhodes College paid tribute to staff on May 19 with a virtual celebration, and four Rhodes employees were recognized with the college’s 2020 Outstanding Staff Awards based on nominations submitted by faculty, staff, and students. These awards recognize employees who continually strive for excellence, keeping the mission of the college in focus.

Due to the campus’ shift to remote learning, the annual Senior Thesis Exhibition in Clough-Hanson Gallery had to be cancelled. However, the work of the three senior studio art majors, Annie Grace Netterville, Ben Aquila, and Jamie Payne, won’t go unnoticed. Their works have appeared in a print publication, produced by Rhodes’ Department of Art and Art History, titled “Couple Things . . .”

Dr. Shadrack Nasong'o, professor of international studies at Rhodes, is the recipient of a 2020 Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship. Through the fellowship program, he will spend two months at Egerton University in Kenya to help develop curriculum for a master’s degree program in international relations and diplomacy and to help mentor graduate students and junior faculty in social science research methods and pedagogical strategies.