A native of nearby Collierville, TN, Ryan McTigue ’25 has always held Memphis near to his heart. This summer, he decided to give back to the city through a Summer Service Fellowship at the Hospitality Hub, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting those facing homelessness.
Memphis’ vibrant culture and history were influential draws for McTigue when he began his college search, and Rhodes’ liberal arts curriculum and beautiful campus sealed the deal. He quickly took an interest in the interdisciplinary major of philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE), and credits both the PPE department and Career Services for much of his success at Rhodes. “Without them, I would not be the student or person I am today,” says McTigue. “I am beyond appreciative for the education and opportunities they have afforded me.”
It was with the help of Career Services that he first learned about, applied for, and was awarded a Summer Service Fellowship. The eight-week intensive program encourages students to get involved with the greater Memphis area through an internship at a nonprofit of their choice. Students receive not only compensation and academic credit, but also invaluable insights into how nonprofits uplift the community.
McTigue chose the Hospitality Hub for its hands-on approach to community support and spent most of his time working at the Hub’s Youth Housing Demonstration Project (YHDP). The YHDP houses 12 young adults at a time in a dorm-style complex called Hub Hall. There, residents have a warm bed in a safe place and a caseworker to help them overcome obstacles to housing and financial stability.
A typical day at Hub Hall for McTigue involved both administrative support and one-on-one interactions with residents. Whether he was assisting a resident with a resume, stocking groceries for the house, or helping the management staff make a brochure, he says the environment was always welcoming.
“The residents work incredibly hard to improve their situations, but many administrative, personal, or otherwise frustrating obstacles can hinder their journeys,” says McTigue. “In those circumstances, it requires the perseverance of all of us to keep the process moving in the right direction.”
Now, McTigue is bringing his motivation back to campus. In the classroom, he says his fellowship shed new light on the issues discussed in courses such as health equity and comparative political economy. His experiences have also influenced extracurricular conversations in Rhodes’ PPE club, of which McTigue is president, and the Pizza and Politics club, where he serves as committee chair.
More than anything else, McTigue hopes to inspire other students to get involved in Memphis beyond Rhodes’ gates. “Whether it is an hour of your time baking cookies at the FedEx Family House or a year volunteering at a nonprofit, whatever time you can give is worthy,” says McTigue. “No act of kindness is too small.”
By Hannah Meit ’25