Rhodes senior Eleanor Ellsworth, who is pursuing a double major in biology and Chinese studies, represented her research group at the ASIANetwork 2025 Annual Conference and presented results from their project titled “Asian Foodways in Memphis: Reasons for Rebrands.” The group includes Sophia Burke ’26, Stella Venn ’25, Gwen Williams ’24, and Silvia Flores ’24.
ASIANetwork is a consortium of more than 140 North American colleges that promotes education about Asia within the liberal arts. Rhodes is one of the founding members. The annual conference, which draws teacher-scholars and their students in a three-day weekend of intensive exchange and collaboration in pedagogy, research, and skills development, was held March 28-30 at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.
Ellsworth’s group examined factors influencing the rebranding of a small family-owned business within the food industry as well as factors influencing cultural assimilation.
They conducted the research as part of the Taste, Culture and Power: Asia and Global Foodways course taught by Prof. Han Li. The course focuses on how the migration of food, both out from Asia and into Asia, has connected different regions and cultures in the world.
Learn more about Chinese studies at Rhodes.