Anna Yates ’25 has been rising through the ranks of Rhodes Student Government (RSG) since her first semester at Rhodes. As a first-year, the Little Rock, AR, native served as a senator and an allocations and student organizations representative. She continued the latter role her sophomore year and also became the senate communications chair. Her junior year, she was the vice president of RSG. For the 2024-2025 academic year, she is stepping in the role of student body president, and has high hopes for what the year will bring.
As vice president, Yates’ main focus was encouraging students to connect with Memphis. “I've had the privilege to meet several leaders in the community through RSG and wanted to prioritize giving all students a deeper connection with the city,” says Yates. She also spearheaded efforts to offer opportunities for hands-on involvement in Memphis, such as the Voter Registration Drive RSG has coordinated for the last three years.
As president, her emphasis has shifted to advocacy over administration. Her foremost responsibility is to hear students’ perspectives and communicate their needs. “I want to hear from as many students as possible, as often as possible, and get their feedback to high-level administrators,” she says. “I see myself as a liaison between students and the rest of the Rhodes community.”
Yates is translating this priority into action as the chair of the senate dining committee, where she focuses on implementing student feedback in day-to-day operations, food access, and sustainability. She also holds a weekly feedback hour in the on-campus coffee shop, the Middle Ground, where students are invited to meet with her one-on-one. In addition, the RSG president oversees all student government bodies through regular meetings with the executive cabinet and serves as a student trustee on Rhodes’ Board of Trustees.
As a philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) major, Yates’ service in RSG also closely aligns with her academic studies. During her time at Rhodes, she has further explored her interests in government and service by interning for both the U.S. House of Representatives and the International Justice Mission. Upon her graduation next May, Yates plans to attend law school and feels well-equipped with the necessary tools to succeed thanks to RSG, the PPE department, and the connections she has fostered throughout her time at Rhodes. She hopes to leave a legacy of community involvement and advocacy that will be continued by future members of RSG.
By Hannah Meit ’25