Recently starring in Rhodes Theatre Guild’s (RTG) production of the musical Amélie, French and Francophone studies and education double major Eliza Fleming ’25 rediscovered her passion for the stage. But more than that, her performance was a testament to how she has come into her own during her time at Rhodes.

Rhodes College’s Office of Academic Affairs has added four new key positions. They are Dr. Elizabeth Thomas, who is now dean for faculty development; Dr. Natalie Person, dean for community engagement/executive director of the Lynne and Henry Turley Memphis Center; Dr. Sujan Dan, dean for post-graduate and special programs; and Dr. Geoffrey Maddox, associate dean for assessment and academic effectiveness.

The Greater Memphis area is home to hospitals and medical research and teaching facilities that are ranked among the best in the nation. In the fall, senior chemistry major Parth Patel will be attending one of those institutions—the University of Tennessee Health Science Center—thanks to learning opportunities at area hospitals and Rhodes’ Health Professions Advising Office. Also recently, he received the 2024 Chemistry Research Senior Award for work done at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

They were recognized at the college’s annual Awards Convocation held on campus April 26. Dr. Erin Dolgoy of the Department of Politics and Law received the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching. Dr. Larryn Peterson of the Department of Chemistry received the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity.

At the student-led Campus Life Awards ceremony on April 17, the following members of the Rhodes community were recognized for their outstanding level of commitment and passion in their respective areas of campus involvement. Awards are selected by various organizations and groups on campus.

Cali VanCleve, a Rhodes College sophomore majoring in international studies and Russian, has been selected to receive the Boren Scholarship, which funds study abroad with the goal of immersing students in a language critical to U.S. national security interests. In the summer and fall of 2024, she will study Russian in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as part of the School of Russian and Asian Studies’ Russian as a Second Language Program.

The Rhodes Historical Review is published annually by the Rhodes chapter of Phi Alpha Theta history honor society. The student-edited journal accepts essays from across the college that investigate historical subjects and themes from various periods and geographic regions.

The 2023-2024 mock trial season ended April 19-21 with Rhodes teams competing in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championship Tournament in Chicago. Rhodes A finished second in its division and Rhodes B finished sixth.

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

Parth Sinojia ’25 won the undergraduate category and Jake Ackerman ’24 was runner-up at the Memphis Area Collegiate Geospatial Showcase presented April 12 at The University of Memphis. Dr. Kate Shields, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, accompanied the students and was part of a career panel at the event.