The many ways our alumni lead and inspire others in their communities constantly remind us of the timeless value of a liberal arts education. The alumni featured in this Rhodes magazine further speak to how our college helps graduates in life-changing ways. They highlight the outstanding teaching-mentoring relationships between faculty and students that remain at the heart of a Rhodes education.
All our featured alumni in this issue reflect the breadth of experiences you encounter at Rhodes. Those often unexpected twists and turns along the road of college life helped to determine the career paths of many. Take for example Ariana French ’95, who majored in psychology. Access to the Rhodes computer lab introduced her to the newly emerging curiosity known as the World Wide Web. She spent hours in the lab learning to code and today remains on the cutting edge of her field as the director of digital technology at the American Museum of Natural History.
Ira Jackson ’87 reports that his deep conversations with his professors and classmates changed his worldview. This flexibility in his thinking has served him well in his role as owner of Perfect Image, a commercial printing firm in Atlanta, GA. Anyone familiar with the world of print understands how necessary it has been to adapt to change.
Closer to home, Eric Mathews ’02 operates a business start-up incubator in downtown Memphis. More importantly, he shares his expertise with his alma mater by working with young entrepreneurs on campus. Bryan Darr ’84 observed a need for data-mapping information among early mobile phone customers in the mid-1980s and has grown his idea into the largest mobile network coverage database company in the country right here in Memphis.
Memphians Sarah Lacy ’98 and Philly Kirkwood ’11 retain their love for their hometown even though both have gone on to successful media careers elsewhere. Sarah—founder of PandoDaily, an online news source covering Silicon Valley—was recently included in two lists of top women in technology and was described as a “rock star” in her industry by Dr. Betsy Sanders, associate professor of math and computer science at Rhodes. Philly weathered job searching during the Great Recession, but stuck it out and landed a dream job in New York advertising, garnering attention in January from Adweek.
These alumni serve as just a small handful of the many who have departed Rhodes toward a life of continued learning and questioning that characterizes a liberal arts education. I trust you will be reminded of special relationships you enjoyed with your favorite professors or the many friends made here and their impact on your life.
In December, we completed a very successful Campaign for Rhodes to ensure a vibrant future. Alumni, parents, trustees, friends, corporations, and foundations from across the country reinforced the importance of a residential liberal arts education with their generous support. Because of them, we have been able to establish new student scholarships, increase support for faculty, and make major campus capital improvements. Our college is a better place thanks to these meaningful investments. I am grateful and humbled by this most meaningful testimony to the power and promise of the liberal arts. I want to personally thank all those whose campaign contributions and support ensure that Rhodes continues to provide an exceptional education in the liberal arts and sciences in the 21st century.