News and relevant information about Rhodes students, faculty, and staff making the most of living in Memphis.

Clarence Day Scholar Russ Palmer ’21 earned the title of Battalion Commander in the ROTC program by the start of his senior year and was named cadet of the month last October, a national recognition that acknowledges the outstanding performance of an individual both in the classroom and in training.

For the past decade, students in Dr. Sarah Boyle’s Animal Behavior course have been granted access to the Memphis Zoo to design behavioral research projects in collaboration with the zoo. These research projects have addressed many topics, but 10 independent studies on 16 species have focused on the impact of zoo visitors on animal behavior. Now the research has been published in the journal Animals for its special issue on evidence-based practice in zoo animal management.

A remote semester at Rhodes has offered new challenges, but also opportunities for students to get creative. Seniors Harrison Rozman, Katie Gordon, and Ellie Schreiner have used this time to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.

Dr. Dana Horgen’s dual passions for running and chemistry have defined her personal and professional trajectories. In addition to teaching and directing chemistry lab studies, the assistant professor of chemistry is captaining Team Rhodes, which participates in the annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon.

Dr. Kiren Khan, assistant professor of psychology, has been supervising a team of Rhodes students on research related to the Summer Success kindergarten readiness program she co-developed with researchers at The Ohio State University and implemented in Memphis across the previous two summers. Four psychology majors who are members of Khan’s Language and Literacy Lab were involved in summer 2020 research. They are Taylor Duncan ’21, Eraine Leland ’21, Meredith Schoel ’21, and Leticia Rosas ’22.

Dr. Trimiko Melancon, associate professor of English and Africana studies, and Karl Erickson, assistant professor of art and art history, will have their films featured at the annual Indie Memphis Film Festival to be held Oct. 21-29. In its new form, the film festival will feature virtual screenings and outdoor screenings.

Using classroom training to serve the Memphis community, Rhodes’ business course Taxation for Working Poor accomplishes the college’s vision of ​students translating academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action in their communities. Since starting the course in 2015, Rhodes has certified more than 275 student volunteers, who have helped Memphis taxpayers save approximately $10,186,000 in combined refunds and tax preparation fees.

In just two years, the Just Food: Race, Class, and Gender in the U.S. course has become one of the most unique and popular classes offered at Rhodes. The JustFood podcast highlights stories exploring the complexities of food production, consumption, and inequality across the city of Memphis. “As a collective, the podcast series reveals the role of storytelling to promote empowerment through awareness, equity, and autonomy,” explains Dr. Kimberly Kasper. “We hope that all who listen can come to recognize the value of those narratives and how they help to shape the dynamic foodscape of Memphis.”

September 22, President Marjorie Hass joined leaders in the Memphis community to honor the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Despite the pandemic putting a halt to hospital internships and fellowships this summer, Demi Shamsi-Basha ’22 remained committed to public health and to helping the Memphis community. Volunteering on the front lines of Church Health’s drive-through COVID-19 testing site at Crosstown Concourse, the neuroscience major has borne witness to the realities of the pandemic in Memphis and the vigorous citywide efforts to slow the spread.