Rhodes College today announced a $2 million gift from The Rhodes Family Foundation to name the director’s position for the college’s Center for Career and Professional Development. This will be the college’s first endowed staff position. The gift supports the center’s vision of “ensuring all students graduate from Rhodes College prepared, engaged, self-aware, and confident in their abilities both to lead and to fulfill professional, academic, and personal goals.” The gift also carries a challenge component, and the college aims to raise an additional $500,000 to support this new endowment.
Bill Rhodes is the former president and chief executive officer of AutoZone, where he continues to serve as executive chairman of the board. He and his wife, Amy, are the parents of 2018 Rhodes College graduate, Madison Rhodes, who is engaged to Isak Lund, a current Rhodes College student. Bill and Amy are tremendous supporters of the Memphis community and have served on many local, state, and national boards, including the Rhodes College Board of Trustees. Bill received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the college in 2024.
As part of its strategic plan, Rhodes College has reimagined its former Office of Career Services and established the Center for Career and Professional Development. Because Rhodes College is one of only a handful of liberal arts colleges located in a major city, its students and graduates have vast opportunities for internships and research opportunities and enjoy great success after college, whether pursuing a graduate degree or beginning a career. A national search is currently underway for The Rhodes Family Director of Career and Professional Development.
“We are so grateful to Amy, Bill, Madison, and Charlie Rhodes and their foundation for the continued commitment to Rhodes,” said Rhodes College President Jennifer Collins. “We aspire to offer the finest career and personal development program of any liberal arts college in the country, and this gift is a significant step is helping us realize that vision.”
Rhodes has been recognized among the “Best Value Colleges for 2025” and the Top 20 Best Schools for Internships (private schools) by The Princeton Review. In 2024, online periodical University Magazine recognized Rhodes among “College Campuses with the Highest Internship Opportunities.” About 70 percent of Rhodes students complete at least one internship.