Lily Whitesell's passion for STEM subjects flourished into endeavors spanning multiple disciplines, institutions, and countries while at Rhodes.

Jazmin Montes ’24, Alex Moreno-Espinosa ’27, Lucy Page ’24, and Yesica Trejo ’26, who are pursuing majors and minors in Latin American and Latinx studies, presented their research at the Latin American and Latinx Studies Symposium held at Rollins College on March 22 in Winter Park, FL. Students from across the country gathered at this interdisciplinary forum to showcase original research and creative projects conducted at their institution.

Plans are underway for the 2024 Commencement Exercises of Rhodes College to be held Saturday, May 11. Julie Gehrki, a member of the Rhodes Class of 2002 and vice president of philanthropy at Walmart, has been selected to deliver the address at the Baccalaureate Convocation on Friday, May 10, 2024. The program includes reflections from members of the graduating class and expressions of gratitude to those who have helped them in their journey along the way.

Dr. Charles McKinney, chair of Africana studies and an associate professor of history at Rhodes, has co-edited a new book with Brown University history professor Françoise N. Hamlin titled From Rights to Lives: The Evolution of the Black Freedom Struggle.

The Southwestern Review is the college’s literary journal produced by Rhodes students, and its goal is to publish work—including literature and art—that inspires original thought, community-building, and support for creative expression. The launch party for the 2024 edition will be Tuesday, April 16, at 5:30 p.m. in Hardie Auditorium and will include music, readings, food, and copies of the new issue.

Members of the Rhodes community celebrated Rhodes Giving Day on April 10—raising $270,033 and 1,340 gifts—a new record for Rhodes for number of gifts made in one day. Dozens of volunteers helped drive the challenge to success.

Rhodes College senior Riley Damiano from Patterson, NY, has a big decision to make. She’s been offered a competitive Fulbright research grant by the Netherland-America Foundation. Does she want to accept it and work in the Netherlands right after graduation, or will she choose the award she’s been offered by the National Cancer Institute to conduct research there?

Rhodes enjoys a range of Shakespeare-related resources thanks to a generous bequest from the late Dr. Iris Annette Pearce. The Pearce Shakespeare Endowment was established in 2007 to enrich courses in Shakespeare and support events for the campus. This month on campus, the Pearce Shakespeare Endowment is sponsoring a visit by two Harvard University scholars—Dr. Marjorie Garber and Dr. Martin Puchner.

Rhodes alums Kelsey Rena Glasper ‘21, Eraine Leland ’21, and Scotty Wicker '22 have been selected to receive the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) following a national competition. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. Fellowships provide the recipient with a three-year annual stipend of $37,000, as well as access to opportunities for professional development.

Chemistry major Kathryn Edwards ’24 recently won first place in the research poster competition at the spring meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. She presented her research project “Acid Rain: The Global Issue Forgotten,” which she is completing in her senior seminar course taught by Dr. Ramesh Sapkota.