News and information about the Rhodes campus experience.

Rhodes College has been known to catch the eye of onlookers and visitors of the college, but its own students helped it earn the No. 20 spot on the “Most Beautiful Campus” list of The Princeton Review’s latest college guide: The Best 388 Colleges: 2023 Edition.

The academics, a quality education, the friendly community, a beautiful campus, and support from professors are just some of the reasons members of the incoming class say they have chosen to make Rhodes College their new home. The college will be energized by 488 first-time, first-year students.

Rhodes College had 397 student-athletes named to the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Academic Honor Roll for 2021-22, making it another banner year in the classroom for the Lynx. Of those being recognized this year, 154 student-athletes from fall sports teams made the honor roll, 59 from winter sports teams, and 184 from spring sports teams.

Rhodes College is featured in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2023, a best-selling college guidebook that includes profiles of more than 300 of the “best and most interesting” colleges in the country. The guide recognizes Rhodes for educational opportunities beyond campus and strong programs in economics, English, international studies, history, chemistry, business, biology, and psychology.

Eight talented local high school students have been on campus this summer participating in the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED program hosted by Rhodes College’s Department of Chemistry. The students are conducting meaningful research under the supervision of Rhodes faculty within the chemistry department and biochemistry and molecular biology program.

Dr. Jennifer M. Collins took office today as the 21st president of Rhodes College. She joins the national liberal arts college after serving as the Judge James Noel Dean and professor of law at Southern Methodist University in Texas. “I am truly honored to be joining the incredible community at Rhodes College today,” says President Collins. “I am very much looking forward to partnering with our wonderful faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners in the great city of Memphis to enhance the outstanding educational experience we provide and champion our commitments to service and inclusive excellence.”

Rhodes College is being awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research grant in the amount of $639,165 to continue research performed by Professor of Chemistry Loretta Jackson-Hayes and Professor of Biology Terry Hill with students in their labs. The research explores cell growth and division of fungi and has potential to find more effective antifungal drugs.

Rhodes has landed on Money’s Best Colleges in America 2022. Editors of the magazine spent months evaluating data on quality, affordability, and student outcomes of more than 600 four-year colleges across the country. Rhodes also is among the magazine’s top 50 Best Colleges in the South.

Rhodes College recently paid tribute to staff at its annual Staff Recognition Brunch, and four Rhodes employees received the college’s 2022 Outstanding Staff Awards based on nominations submitted by faculty, staff, and students. They are Sherry Sasson, Tina NeSmith, Jennifer J.B. Bone, Tina NeSmith, and Martha McGeachy.

Linda Bonnin, senior vice president for marketing and strategic communications at Abilene Christian University, has been named vice president for marketing and communications at Rhodes College. She will assume the role on July 5, after President-elect Jennifer Collins takes office. Bonnin will head the college’s newly formed Division of Marketing and Communications and serve on the Senior Leadership Team, providing high-level strategic direction to advance the visibility and reputation of the Rhodes brand and to achieve the college’s strategic objectives.