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

Claire Revels Shapiro, chief human resources officer at Rhodes College, was among the nominees for the 2022 HR Excellence Awards presented by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)-Memphis Nov. 15.

At the annual Fall Conference of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Mound Up! Neighborhood Revitalization Plan was recognized with the Outstanding Student Project award. It will be featured at the national level on the American Planning Association blog.

Dr. Joy Brooke Fairfield, assistant professor of media studies, Yifei “Yash” Zhang ’21, and Janay Kelley ’24 will have their works featured at the 54th Indie Memphis Film Festival to be held Oct. 19-24.

Jackson Hendrix ’24 began his journey at Rhodes knowing nothing of cameras—fast forward to his junior year, the computer science and media studies double major is leading a video team working to bring back a piece of history.

A short film titled The River by Rhodes English major Janay Kelley ’24 made its premiere at the seventh annual Indie Memphis Youth Film Fest held Aug. 26 at the Halloran Centre. Kelley produced the film with two $5,000 Youth Production Packages she received in 2018 and 2019 as winner of the event’s Grand Jury Prize for two consecutive years.

Rhodes College music major Lina Beach ’23 is recording her first album at the legendary Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios in Memphis, where musicians such as Al Green, Ann Peebles, Rod Stewart, John Mayer, and Bruno Mars have recorded hits. Beach also has been cutting tracks with musicians from the talented Hi Rhythm Section, which once was the studio’s house band and helped to define the studio’s unique sound.

There is a new addition to the Memphis Zoo family—Kosti the elephant—and she getting to know the zookeepers as well as Animal Behavior and Conservation Fellows from Rhodes College. The fellowship familiarizes students with the evolutionary, neural, and environmental behavior of animals.

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.

The Rhodes College mock trial A team has qualified to compete in the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament to be held April 8-10 in Lancaster, PA. Teams competed March 11-13 in the first weekend of the Opening Round Championship Series qualifiers to determine the top 48 advancing to the nationals.

JD Willis, a Rhodes College first-year student from Madison, AL, will perform the role of Jean-Michel in Theatre Memphis’ production of La Cage aux Folles. The musical runs March 4-27. Students enrolled in Rhodes dance courses taught by choreographer Whitney Branan this semester are planning to attend the show. “Performing for an audience brings out a unique energy that doesn’t come from anywhere else,” says Willis.