English and urban studies double major Zoë Dominguez ’25 has broken the mold when it comes to cookie-cutter college experiences. She came to Rhodes looking to get involved in social justice efforts, but also knew she wanted to let her creative side flourish. Now in her final semester, she has spent three years working with Just City, pursued an Honors Project in English, released her first punk rock single, and fallen in love with the Memphis arts scene.
During her college search, Rhodes’ unique position as a liberal arts institution in a thriving metropolitan area immediately appealed to the Nashville native. “As a musician, a city with a preexisting arts scene was important; as someone passionate about social justice, I wanted a place with opportunities to serve the community. Memphis offered both,” she says.
Aside from the draw of Memphis, receiving a Bonner Scholarship solidified Dominguez’s decision. Bonner Scholars have weekly service and leadership requirements on top of their coursework, and Dominguez secured internships ranging from roles at social justice organizations to art gardens to radio stations. For Dominguez, the most impactful of these internships has been with Just City.
Just City’s mission is to reform the Memphis criminal justice system through initiatives such as Court Watch and expungement programming. Dominguez primarily works in social media development, donor outreach, and event planning, and her experiences with the organization have also informed her senior research in urban studies, which focuses on the emotional impacts of the criminal expungement process.
When she began interning at Just City her sophomore year, she planned on going to law school, but her three years of experience have shown her a new path to social impact: urban studies. “Through my work with their communications team, I realized that social justice extends beyond the legal field,” she says. “Urban studies encompasses a million things, from city planning to education policy to criminal justice. I loved how I could tailor the major to my interests.”
Thus began Dominguez’s interdisciplinary journey. She found that English and urban studies play off of one another in ways that enrich her academic and social experiences. “I was so grateful for my work in the English department when it came time to start my urban studies senior research project. The ability to write quickly and concisely is so valuable in the social sciences,” says Dominguez. “On the other hand, my urban studies courses allow me to better contextualize the readings in my English classes.”
A double major wasn’t always in her plans. Dominguez originally thought she wanted to minor in creative writing, but taking English courses sparked a deeper passion for the subject, and she is now not only pursuing a major, but also an English Honors Project which reframes her musical experience through feminist poetic conventions. Soon, she will have completed over 40 pages of poetry and theoretical criticism. As an Honors Project, her poetry will be permanently housed in Rhodes’ Barret Library, and Dominguez will receive special designation at commencement.
Music has also played a pivotal role in Dominguez’s life; she has been writing and playing music with different groups since age 14. During her sophomore year at Rhodes, she formed a band with other students and has been playing around local music venues ever since. They recently recorded and released their first single, “5-10-100,” and the full album, Out The House, will come out May 23. They kept it local, recording at Memphis recording studio Easley McCain. Dominguez says, “It was such an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the connections I’ve made through Rhodes’ Mike Curb Institute for Music.”
Through the Curb Institute, Dominguez also got involved in the Dredge Zine team during her first year at Rhodes. They produce two student-led arts and culture magazines per year and also release mini editions for on-campus groups. Dominguez interviews local artists, assists in event planning and facilitation, and produces visual materials for the zine. She is grateful that the zine has not only become another creative outlet, but also further connected her with the city. She instructs other students, “Get into the city as much as you can! Memphis has a deep culture that is so worth exploring.”
After an explorative college experience full of twists, turns, and self-discovery, Dominguez says, “I’m so grateful that I trusted the liberal arts process and found what was right for me.” Although she eventually hopes to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in poetry, Dominguez plans to spend the next chapter of her life in Memphis doing nonprofit communications work, focusing on music, and continuing to soak up the city’s artistic influence.
By Hannah Meit ’25