President
Welcome from President Troutt
Before becoming the 19th president of Rhodes, I spent a great deal of time reading its history and talking with faculty, staff, alumni and students. I also immersed myself in the writings of Dr. Charles E. Diehl, the visionary president who moved the college to Memphis in 1925. My wife Carole and I traveled to Clarksville, Tennessee, the previous home of the college, and I stood on the steps of the First Presbyterian Church where Dr. Diehl had no doubt stood many times. There I tried to imagine how he summoned the courage to make such a dramatic and, in some quarters, unpopular move. My decision was based on the desire to be part of this inspiring story.
It has been a joy to lead faculty, staff, alumni and students in developing a vision for the college and a plan for moving it forward that reflects its traditions and spirit. They helped define the 10 initiatives outlined in my inaugural address, and helped refine them further into the Rhodes Vision and four strategic imperatives. This same group of outstanding people works tirelessly to ensure that Rhodes continues to be, in the words of Dr. Diehl, a place where “the good is ever the enemy of the best.”
We also strive to honor his prediction that “This college will live and grow because it is founded upon and nurtured by the eternal principle of service.” More than 80 percent of our students engage in some form of community service, and we are becoming increasingly successful in integrating those experiences—along with research, internships and study abroad—with classroom learning to inspire students to be their very best.
As you click through the pages of rhodes.edu, you will come to understand why I say so often, “Is there a better place in America for talented students to develop fully both their heads and their hearts?”
