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

As part of the Rhodes College experience, students learn how to translate academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action in their communities. Several Rhodes alumni who are now medical students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis are giving back to the community as volunteers at local drive-thru testing sites for COVID-19.

Ethan Ferguson ’22, a tech entrepreneur, and Sherrie Lemons ’14, communications director at Planned Parenthood, are among the Memphis Flyer’s newly released “20 Under 30” list of individuals helping to shape Memphis’ future.

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.

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. 

Elizabeth Morrison Warren '12 of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis credits Rhodes with her affinity for the nonprofit sector and her involvement in the city of Memphis.

Communities in Conversation hosted a discussion of "Memphis: 200 Years of History," an anthology co-edited by Dr. Jonathan Judaken that chronicles the story of Memphis through essays on the city’s politics, sports, businesses, music, art, and food. The anthology is a central part of this semester’s First-Year Experience, which includes the First-Year Seminar.

Alyssa Nucaro ’11, a teacher at Wooddale Middle School, is one of five individuals being recognized as a 2019 Educator of Excellence. Presented by the nonprofit organization New Memphis, the awards celebrate transformational leaders working in local schools.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded $900,000 to Rhodes College to support its innovative initiatives to educate students and citizens about social and cultural determinants of health. The new initiatives made possible by this grant will empower humanities and social science faculty to build out curriculum that more robustly incorporates issues of health equity and to strengthen and create public humanities partnerships in the Memphis region.

Karl Erickson, assistant professor of art and art history, and Emily Burkhead, a senior urban studies major, will have their films featured at the annual Indie Memphis Film Festival to be held Oct. 30-Nov. 4.

There is no one path to breaking into the art industry, but for Jenna Gilley, the journey has included internships with the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the UrbanArt Commission, as well as travel to Meknès, Morocco, where she learned about the city’s arts communities.