Warming oceans. Wildfires. Shifting weather patterns. This semester, Rhodes College is offering a new course dedicated to one of the most challenging global issues—climate change. The liberal arts environment of Rhodes is uniquely suited for important conversations about this subject, since it cuts across many disciplines. The spring 2020 course is a collaboration between Dr. David Rupke and Dr. Sarah Boyle.

While spending the summer at the London School of Economics, Jacob Fontaine '21 connected with The Big Issue, London's street newspaper. Now, as editor in chief of The Bridge, he's working to incorporate the lessons learned there to make Rhodes' street paper more meaningful to Memphians.

Both Rhodes students are majoring in international studies. James C. Gaither Junior Fellows work in Washington, DC, as research assistants to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s senior scholars on projects including foreign policy and diplomacy, technology and international affairs, and geoeconomics and strategy.

Rhodes sophomore Scott Wicker and chemistry professor Dr. William Eckenhoff have been investigating artificial photosynthesis in the production of hydrogen gas, which is a promising alternative fuel that could one day replace gasoline as a transportation fuel.

Assistant Professor of English Chanelle Benz’s novel, The Gone Dead, has been nominated for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel with a prize of $25,000. Finalists will be announced in January 2020. At Rhodes, she teaches fiction writing and topics in women and literature.

Rhodes alumna Chloe Moore has made Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in the 2020 education category, with honorees hailing from across the globe. At the beginning of 2019, she was featured in Memphis Flyer’s “20 Under 30” list of individuals helping to shape Memphis’ future

Rhodes College’s German Program is featured in an article about successful language programs actively building new communities and connections. It appears in the Fall 2019 issue of Profession, which is published by the Modern Language Association (MLA), one of the world’s largest scholarly associations.

Annual awards were presented at Rhodes College’s Alumni Convocation on Nov. 16 during Homecoming/Reunion Weekend. Dr. William Van Davidson from the Class of 1962 received the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Sherry L. Turner from the Class of 1984 received the 2019 Black Student Association Distinguished Alumni Award.

While undergoing chemotherapy treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital after being diagnosed with leukemia at age 16, Cruthirds founded Adam’s Army to raise money and awareness for St. Jude’s work. He says his goal has always been to raise one million dollars, which he reached just ahead of the December 7 St. Jude Memphis Marathon.