Faces of Rhodes

Computer science major Kyla Bursey ’24 decided Rhodes was the college for her after attending Crossroads, an overnight program for admitted students from underrepresented communities that introduces them to intersectionality at Rhodes and to the Memphis community. “So many students praised how the professors made them feel like they belonged, and it was a beautiful place to find community inside and outside the gates of Rhodes,” she says.

Once she began her first semester, the Nashville native already had a vision for where the next four years would take her. A longtime member of Youth About Business during her childhood, becoming an entrepreneur and inspirer was at the forefront of her mind. Recently, she has taken multiple entrepreneurship classes in the business department and also established her own website as an extension of these courses. 

Though her academic focus is on computer science, Bursey is most passionate about advocating for mental health awareness and self-love. She partnered with Dr. Anne L. Borden of Your Big Life Coaching to create a workshop called “The Wellness Hour” to promote self-care and a healthy work/life balance among students. She also uses her podcast, Hikylabur, as a form of mental health advocacy. In each episode, she shares pieces of her college experience and reflects on the wisdom she’s gained.

Recently, Bursey pursued an opportunity to speak at a TEDx Youth event. Always passionate about public speaking, she saw it as the perfect opportunity to spread a positive message to the Memphis community. “I feel that my purpose in life is to empower and motivate others to realize their potential while protecting their mental health,” says Bursey. “As discussions of mental health are becoming more open, especially in communities of color, it is important to affirm that we don’t always have to be strong and keep pushing when we need to slow down.”

After her graduation this May, Bursey plans to take a gap year to travel and further develop her podcast and speaking platform while pursuing a career in media and production. She’s also considering an MBA as another educational opportunity to further bolster her skillset.

Zoey Ragan has a unique journey that spans six different countries. With both parents involved in international politics, she’s attended embassy or boarding schools in Zambia, North Korea (the only American to do so), Nepal, Tanzania, the U.S., and Costa Rica. Her father is a senior staff member with the United Nations, whose assignments took the family all over the world. 

When considering college, Ragan sought a small liberal arts environment where she could focus on political science and international studies. “I love being able to talk about politics. With two politicians in the house, that's all we ever talked about at our dinner table. I knew I wanted to do that, and I wanted to be in a city. My mom read about Rhodes in the book Colleges that Change Lives. I was figuring out where I wanted to go, and I thought it was time for me to come home. I guess I never had a place I could call home because I grew up all over the place. It was time to figure out my history, my roots, my family, and come to the South.”

And for Ragan, it was the right choice. “For me, it's the fact that Rhodes is such a tight-knit community—we all take care of each other. It reminds me a lot of the international schools I grew up in, because they were a community in themselves.  To be honest, I haven't lived in a spot by myself longer than three years, so I'm surprised that I've made it this far and not bounced around—so that says something about Rhodes!

“At Rhodes, I've learned to get more involved within the communities that I'm in. I’m a captain on the mock trial team on campus, which I absolutely adore. The program is incredibly, incredibly challenging. I am also on the Pan board for Greek life.”

Ragan also works at Acre, a fine dining restaurant owned by a family friend, reinforcing her ties to Memphis and the South. “There're always people from my hometown, from the place I was born in Mississippi, coming in, and they’ll recognize you. I'll always run into people in these small niche places within Memphis that are from this Delta community.”

Looking ahead to her senior year—and beyond—she acknowledges there are daunting questions that every student faces. But she’s excited about spending time with the family she's created at Rhodes, celebrating their accomplishments. Ragan’s story is a testament to the transformative power of Rhodes College, where she not only discovered her academic passions but also forged lasting connections and found a sense of home in a community that spans borders and cultures.

Brian Hoang ’27 is a first-generation college student from Khoai Village in Vietnam. Hoang chose Rhodes because of its beautiful campus, close-knit community, and strong liberal arts courses. Fortunately, the campus and the community have met— and sometimes exceeded — his expectations.

“I only applied to liberal arts colleges because I prefer smaller colleges. There are just more opportunities to work closely with professors and have a better relationship with people,” says Hoang. “Now that I am a student here, I can say that Rhodes is even more beautiful than I thought. The internet doesn’t capture all the details of the buildings, and the weather is similar to Vietnam.”

Hoang is the first member of his family to attend college, and his motivation stems from his desire to provide a better life for himself and his loved ones by moving beyond his village in Vietnam. Being a first-generation student comes with challenges, and Hoang faced many difficulties while navigating the application process. Despite his family being supportive, they didn’t know much about applying to college.

“None of my parents went to college because their family was too poor, and the system of getting into college in Vietnam is so much different compared to here. And so, it was tough for me to find all the useful information for applying to college,” says Hoang. “Rhodes has a good number of Vietnamese students, which is another reason I chose to go here. I contacted the admission office, and they connected me with other Vietnamese students. I listened to their experiences, and they all said they’re having a good time.”

At Rhodes, Hoang has found a welcoming and supportive community, and he has benefited from the close relationships with peer tutors and student organizations that allow him to share his experiences and concerns as a first-generation college student.

“At Rhodes, there are so many resources. All my professors are super supportive, and the people here check on me and are always willing to help.”

Abena Afriyie has spent every minute of her time at Rhodes to the fullest. During her first year, she was adjusting to life as a Posse Scholar and  working at Room in the Inn, a nonprofit that works with people experiencing homelessness. Now in her second year, she has added bi-weekly mentor and communications director for the Multicultural Vision Program. Afriyie also works as a student associate for student accessibility services, adding to her busy workload.

“I’ve been very involved,” she says, “and so I've been learning how to manage it while at Rhodes.”

Despite her busy schedule, Afriyie, who describes herself as always being service-oriented, was naturally drawn to Rhodes’ Summer of Service fellowship.  Through the fellowship, she was able to work with nonprofit groups and find new connections in the city, an experience that she says strengthened her love for the city and community work.

“I learned a lot about the professional world and what I wanted in a professional setting. I feel like it's just good to be involved in your community wherever you're planted or whenever you're among other people. Whatever you choose to do, it's important that you contribute something and give something back.”

One thing that has stood out to Afriyie at Rhodes has been the relationships that she has forged with professors and students. 

“Being a student here, having professors like we do, being in the classroom sizes that we're in, it's amazing. A professor of mine said that all professors here have strong relationships with students, and I’ve found that to be very true. Our professors are invested in our learning, and they're interested in the things that we have to say. Though they're literally experts in their field, the way they order their classroom makes it feel like everyone has an equal contribution in the classroom. It makes Rhodes a special place.”

Native Memphian Penelope Link never expected to find herself attending college in her hometown.

"I was looking at DePaul, Loyola Chicago, and the University of Illinois, but I am so glad that I ended up at Rhodes because I’ve been able to have opportunities for personal relationships with staff and peers that are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before."

The Clarence Day Scholarship played a pivotal role in Penelope's decision to choose Rhodes. The scholarship focuses on recognizing outstanding applicants from Memphis and Shelby County who have demonstrated a potential for leadership and a commitment to community involvement, rather than solely relying on standardized test scores or grades for admission. Day Scholars participate in campus and community events related to the Day Foundation and Memphis leadership initiatives, in addition to completing a project related to the college’s engagement efforts in Memphis.

Outside of the Day Scholarship, Link is a Curb fellow, where she has explored the Memphis music community and engaged in rewarding documentary research with writer and filmmaker Robert Gordon. Penelope's love for art and history has led her to pursue a major in art history, which she plans to combine with a music minor.

"I think that a liberal arts education, in general, is special because you get to try so many different things. And if you're the kind of person who likes to explore and try new things, going to a liberal arts college really helps you figure out what you want to do. The people and resources there will help you make a plan and push towards the future."

Hailing from Tucson, AZ, Maeve Harper’s journey to Rhodes College started with her high school chemistry teacher and finished when she visited the Rhodes College campus.

“My chemistry teacher was a Rhodes alumnus, and both my teacher and college counselor recommended Rhodes College. Before I committed, I was able to visit and learn about the small class sizes and rigorous academics, which is what I wanted from a liberal arts school. I fell in love with the campus, and Rhodes became my top choice.”

Coming into Rhodes, Harper was set on being a French major. She decided to explore an introductory international relations class in her first semester and found a new passion. Through personal effort and Rhodes’ adaptable and flexible major opportunities, Harper meshed both of her passions and is double majoring in French and international studies. 

"International studies pairs well with language studies. Double majoring has been good—I've really been able to take a good balance of classes,” says Harper. “In the environment at Rhodes, it's normal to have a high workload and everyone aims to get everything done. I really fit into that culture, wanting to work hard and still have a social-life balance. All my professors are super supportive and make sure that I have everything I need. I’m glad I decided to double major; I wouldn't be getting the same experience without two disciplines.”

Although academics take priority for Harper, meaningful social experiences follow as a close second. In addition to working as a student associate in the Language Learning Center, she is a constant figure in Tuesday Fellowship, Amnesty International, and French Club. Her recent induction into the French National Honor Society reflects her passion for her studies and college community.

“The French National Honor Society has a monthly event called La Table Ronde, where we engage in advanced French conversation for an hour. It’s one of my favorite things that I do at Rhodes. We sit down for an hour and talk in French about life, without any classroom pressure. I get to build relationships with all my fellow French majors while we practice our French and help each other with pronunciation and grammar. 

"I really love how active I’ve become—the community support you get at Rhodes is so beneficial. Rhodes unlocks so many opportunities. I would recommend coming here because of just that ability to really get deeper into the community.”

Omaha, NE, native Brianna Rempe’s love of Rhodes began at a very young age.

“We did a huge road trip down to Memphis, and I always remember telling my mom, ‘I'll end up going to school here.’ She told me I would have ages until I would get there—but when it was time for me to choose a college, my college counselor really pushed Rhodes, saying that it would be a good fit.”

Rempe came to Rhodes knowing that she wanted to find a way to connect her interests in music and physiology. A music and psychology bridge major is allowing Rempe to do just that, while also pursuing a Spanish major.

“I've always been very, very, goal oriented, and I think having such a large major gave me the perfect way to get into music therapy and also have a solid foundation of both music and psych to better prepare me for grad school. It's allowed me to find my own path.”

Off campus, Rempe works as a music teacher at the Refugee Empowerment Program and has also worked with the Best Buddies organization; on campus, she works as a resident assistant. For her senior year she will be studying abroad in Chile, something she says will be a nice change of pace.

“I have pushed myself really hard my first three years at Rhodes., so I'm very excited just to have that time to work on my senior seminar project and take advantage of my time abroad.”