National and global news about Rhodes students and alums

A diagnosis of cancer hasn’t put a brake on Kathleen Modder's education, athletics, or extracurriculars—instead, she’s chronicling her journey to bring awareness and encouragement to others.

Dr. Shadrack W. Nasong’o, professor of international studies, is co-editor of the new book The Palgrave Handbook of Kenyan History (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023) with Maurice N. Amutabi of Technical University of Kenya and Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Sarah Rollens, the R.A. Webb Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College, has been appointed as the next executive editor of the Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus.

Ten international studies majors have been selected as Mertie Buckman International Interns to travel abroad and intern in a country of their choosing during 2023.

The Rhodes College chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) is the recipient of an Outstanding Chapter Award from the SPS National Office, a designation given to fewer than 10 percent of all SPS chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and internationally.

Dr. Francisco O. “Frank” Mora recently was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States. He served on the Rhodes College faculty from 1994 to 2004.

Mia-Miracle Craig, Sam Frank, Claire Kiernan, and Vaniel Simmons are competing for the 2023 Truman Scholarship, a national competitive, merit-based award offered to students who wish to attend graduate school in preparation for a career in government, the non-profit sector, or public service. It provides up to $30,000 to be applied toward graduate school.

Three Rhodes students accompanied Dr. Kenny Morrell to Caesarea, Israel, for the archaeological opportunity of a lifetime: the Caesarea City and Port Exploration Maymester.

Rhodes College English alumna J. Bailey Hutchinson is the recipient of a 2023 Creative Writing Fellowship of $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Four Rhodes College seniors are competing for the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, which provides a $40,000 grant for purposeful, independent exploration abroad. They are Isabel López, Benjamin Oelkers, Anna Parkinson, and Van Tran.