2007 Summer Service Fellows

Taylor Barnes (′09)
History
St. Louis, MO
Taylor worked with two organizations this summer: the Memphis Area Women’s Council and the Rhodes College Counseling Center.  Taylor spent part of her time at the Memphis Area Women’s Council working on their Girls for Change program recruiting additional participants and planning programming for 2007-2008. The remainder of her time was spent at the Rhodes College Counseling Center revising the Rhodes College sexual assault and harassment policy, developing outreach materials for programming and services offered on women’s issues, and drafting a renewal proposal for a grant to prevent violence against women.

Peyton Bell (′09)
Political Science
Augusta, GA
Peyton learned about the operation of non-profits through his work with the Metropolitan Interfaith Association (MIFA).  At MIFA, Peyton recruited and coordinated volunteers to assist with MIFA projects including home repairs for the elderly and Meals-on-Wheels deliveries.

Michael Campbell (′08)
Psychology
Muscle Shoals, AL
Michael worked with Leadership Memphis to design and implement program orientations, update the alumni database, and design new programming elements.

Sharde’ Chapman (′10)
Undeclared
Orlando, FL
Sharde′ worked with the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership on a transitional housing program for women and a time banking initiative.

Courtney Eskew (′10)
Undeclared
Huntsville, AL
Courtney worked with the Memphis Center for Reproductive Health (MCRH).  In addition to working at the clinic, Courtney developed a reproductive health resource directory and completed a history/archive project on the Center.

Victor Evans(′08)
History
Martin, TN Victor worked with Casa Maria del Pueblo Vecino where he taught English as a Second Language courses, assisted with youth programs, helped develop an after school program for fall 2007, and wrote grants.

Ruthanne Harlow (′07)
Urban Studies
Memphis, TN
Ruthanne worked with the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership.  Ruthanne managed volunteer groups who were rehabilitating an apartment complex that will provide affordable housing for community members.  She also worked with fellow students on field surveys of code violations.

Alesia Harris (′09)
Undeclared
Marietta, GA
Alesia worked with the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership. Alesia focused her energy on compiling a neighborhood newsletter and assessing the image of the Neighborhood Association among residents.  She also helped with the transitional housing program for women and the time banking initiative.

Heather Houser (′09)
Economics & International Studies
Canyon, TX
Heather worked on building capacity among residents in the Rhodes Hollywood-Springdale neighborhood by compiling a resident capacity database and a community resource directory. She also conducted an evaluation of Shasta Central’s work in the neighborhood.

Stephanie Johnson (′09)
Political Science
Brownsville, TN
Stephanie worked with the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership.  Stephanie helped implement a State of Tennessee Transportation grant for traffic safety improvement next to Springdale Elementary School. In addition, she developed educational material to help teach children about safety.

Victoria Liao (′09)
Psychology
San Marino, CA
Victoria worked on the Memphis City Schools’ initiative “Our Children-Our Future.”  Victoria helped develop and implement a volunteer recruitment plan for MCS tutors, researched grant opportunities to increase resources available for tutors, and organized summer volunteer projects. 

Emi McFarlen (′09)
Art
Murray, KY
Emi worked with the Pink Palace Museum. Emi will plan and present summer camp programs and develop new educational programs for the school year.

Marianne Olson (′09)
Biology
Hermitage, TN
Marianne worked with the Memphis Zoological Society.  Marianne expanded the Zoo’s educational outreach programs to underserved populations. She examined past curricula, researched new programs that would be more effective, explored funding options, and implemented programs.

Daniel Sheppard (′08)
Psychology
Spring, TX
Daniel worked with Partners for the Homeless.  In addition to working weekly at a soup kitchen, Daniel completed a service documentation and evaluation project for Partners for the Homeless. The results of the survey will be used to determine the needs of the community, so future programs can be developed and implemented to meet those needs.

Tara Schultz (′08)
English
Germantown, TN
Tara worked with the American Red Cross Mid-South Chapter.  Tara worked with the Community Disaster Education program to educate the mid-south community about the importance of disaster preparedness. A significant part of her work was to help create a formal version of the program’s mission and purpose statements and procedure manual.

2006 Summer Service Fellows

Michael Campbell (′08)
Psychology
Muscle Shoals, AL
Michael worked with CASA, a non-profit agency serving children who have experienced abuse and neglect.  Campbell worked as both a project-based intern for the agency and as a special advocate for the children that it serves.  His work also included completing an extensive training and certification to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Megan Colnar (′08)
International/Latin American Studies
San Antonio, TX
Megan worked with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center to help ensure that disenfranchised members of the Memphis community are able to participate in the democratic process.  She worked specifically with the Memphis Votes and Democracy Now campaigns, utilizing her skills in Spanish to work with the community and to assist in the translation of essential documents.
 
Joshua Jefferies (′07)
Religious Studies
Memphis, TN
Joshua partnered with Our Children – Our Future, a one-on-one tutorial program sponsored by Memphis City Schools.  Jefferies helped to develop the program by recruiting volunteers and implementing innovative improvements in program quality and effectiveness.  Jefferies also helped facilitate the Summer Service Fellowship program.

Courtney Jones (′07)
Anthropology/Sociology
St. John, MO
Courtney worked under the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership to further develop a program that she co-founded the year before. The program, It’s About Me (I AM), offers tutoring, education, and self-development opportunities to girls between the ages of 8 and 16.  Jones worked to increase the program’s presence in the Hollywood Springdale community.

Eva Krug (′07)
Art History
Rosemead, CA
Eva worked both inside and outside the walls of the Brooks museum to raise awareness of the arts and to increase involvement in the museum among underserved populations.  She had the opportunity to work with various departments within the museum, including Education and Public Relations, and played a significant role in researching and promoting upcoming exhibitions.

Jessica Lotz (′08)
Anthropology/Sociology
Bartlett, TN
Jessica spent the summer building on her previous engagement with the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership.  She worked to create a program that offers internships at local businesses to youth in the neighborhood, utilizing the tremendous resources of Rhodes to help young residents in the Hollywood Springdale community realize their career goals and achieve future economic stability.

Cordarius McLean (′09)
Anthropology/Sociology
Chapel Hill, TN
Cordarius worked with the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership and Professor Carol Ekstrom to invigorate programming at Cypress Middle School and Springdale Elementary School.  He assisted in preparations for the upcoming school year as well as the organization of two Rhodes Open House Saturdays.

Joel Parsons (′07)
Art
Rogers, AR
Joel worked with More Than Art, an artists’ collaborative he founded last year that uses art to build community among local populations who don’t normally interact, especially the homed and the homeless.  Parsons planned and executed a series of small exhibitions and events that showcased the work of group members to the larger community.  Parsons also helped facilitate the Summer Service Fellowship program.

Amanda Sakla (′07)
Psychology
Metairie, LA
Amanda employed her passion for education and her organizational skills in her work with Cypress Middle School and the community that it serves.  Working under the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership program, Sakla developed the Science Saturday program at Cypress and BCLC Open Gym Days at Rhodes in order to open doors between the two schools and offer opportunities to the youth of the community.

Justin Sealand (′08)
Psychology
Lilburn, GA
Justin worked at the Grizzlies Academy in several capacities.  He assisted with the planning and coordination of field trips, oversaw leadership development for students at the Academy who were involved in orientation, and implemented a weight training program based on his own experience in physical education.
 
Sabrina Seriff (′09)
Biology
Atlanta, Georgia
Sabrina combined previous experience working at a community church with a desire to practice medicine by volunteering her time at the Hope and Healing Center.  She worked in Child Life Education, teaching children and their parents about healthy habits.

Katherine Stewart (′07)
Psychology
Atlanta, GA
Katherine built on previous experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters in her efforts this summer as she turned her focus toward community-based programming.  Stewart worked with BB/BS’s CORE program which pairs community members with ‘littles.’  Her work culminated in the annual Sports Ball fundraiser which she helped plan and execute.

Dustin Sump (′09)
International Studies/Economics
St. Louis, MO
Dustin worked with Seedco, an organization which offers technical and financial assistance to local small businesses.  By assisting in the day-to-day operations of the non-profit, Dustin familiarized himself with the economic needs of Memphis in an effort to further understand urban poverty. 

Matthew Tenore (′08)
Biology
Mary Esther, FL
Matthew worked at the Grizzlies Academy to develop strong mentoring relationships with the Academy students and to create innovative programs that engage students in learning. Matt also assisted with a variety of summer projects to help prepare the Academy for the next academic year.  

Rachel Thompson (′08)
Art
Greenville, SC
Rachel worked at the UrbanArt Commission, a non-profit organization that fosters collaboration between local and national artists and communities in Memphis.  Thompson studied the integration of art and urban living as she facilitated the daily work of the UAC.

Lauren Tull (′09)
Political Science
Waco, TX
Lauren worked to improve educational opportunities for young people in the Hollywood Springdale community.  She reviewed and revised current tutoring programs, as well as established an after-school program that will immerse students in the arts.