The Baccalaureate Convocation of the 173rd session of Rhodes College will be held on campus Friday, May 13, at 3:30 p.m. in the multi-sports forum of the Bryan Campus Life Center. Senior Rabbi Micah D. Greenstein of Temple Israel, which is one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States, will deliver the Baccalaureate address, titled “Terra Mater More than Alma Mater.”

Rhodes College is one of the nation’s “Best Value Colleges” for 2022, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company chose only 209 schools out of the more than 650 institutions it surveyed last academic year after analyzing data that included academic rigor, cost/financial aid, Among private schools, Rhodes made the Top 50 Best Value Colleges and Top 20 Best Schools for Internships.

Board of Trustees Chair Cary Fowler ’71 has joined the Department of State as U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security. The news was announced May 5 by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to the press statement, “Dr. Fowler will be critical to the Department’s efforts to respond to the current global food security challenges guided by the Administration’s Global Food Security Strategy 2022-2026 and Global Nutrition Coordination Plan 2021-2026.”

Once a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital herself, senior Emily Hines works full-time at ALSAC, the fund-raising arm of St. Jude. Hines brings a personal perspective to communicating the story of St. Jude, while also crediting her urban studies major in helping her achieve her goals.

Gil Villanueva, associate vice president and dean of admission at the University of Richmond, has been named vice president for enrollment at Rhodes College. He will assume the role in July, when President-elect Jennifer Collins takes office, and will provide high-level strategic direction for the college’s admission, enrollment services, and financial aid operations. In addition, Villanueva will be responsible for collaboratively developing and leading a comprehensive, data-informed enrollment strategy consistent with Rhodes’ vision, strengths, culture, and values.

They were recognized at the college’s annual Awards Convocation, held on campus April 29. Prof. Finlayson of the Department of English received the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching. Prof. Casey of Educational Studies received the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research and/or Creative Activity.

Rhodes College is pleased to announce that Deborah Craddock has been elected chair of the Board of Trustees following the completion of Cary Fowler’s tenure. Craddock, who will be the first woman to serve in the position, will take office July 1. She graduated from Rhodes in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and is a principal at Southeastern Asset Management Inc. She served as vice-chair of the Board of Trustees 2017-2020 and over the years has continuously served both her alma mater and the Memphis community.

At the Campus Life Awards ceremony on April 18 hosted by the Rhodes Student Government, 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 each year by various organizations and groups on campus.

Rhodes seniors Carley Jo Goggans and Fonda Lilly Wilkinson have been selected to receive Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for the 2022-2023 academic year. They will serve as English Teaching Assistants in their assigned countries—Goggans in Estonia and Wilkinson in Germany—beginning in the fall.

As a college of liberal arts and sciences, Rhodes has created an environment encouraging students to present their research or creative activity at professional conferences. They often are the only undergraduates invited to present at these meetings, and many go on to author papers in leading journals. March and April have been busy months for students showcasing their work, both virtually and in cities from coast to coast.