Established in 2024, the Spence Wilson Center for Interdisciplinary Humanities brings communities together to address complex, global questions through humanistic inquiry. At the college, the Humanities division includes faculty working in Africana Studies; Ancient Mediterranean Studies; Asian Studies; English; Environmental Studies; Gender and Sexuality Studies; History; Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies (JIMES); Latin American and Latinx Studies; Linguistics; Modern Languages and Literatures; Philosophy; and Religious Studies, as well as the Search Program and historical approaches to other disciplines (e.g. Art, Media, Music). In addition to hosting public events and co-sponsoring humanities-related programming at Rhodes, the Wilson Center provides internal faculty support for innovative research; collaborative teaching; and interdisciplinary reading groups and writing retreats.
"At a time when the whole world is talking about non-human artificial intelligence and its implications, we at Rhodes are committed to providing an education that promotes independent critical thinking, fosters human originality and creativity, advances knowledge of the distinctive products of human culture, and encourages civil discourse. The humanities matter at Rhodes.” — Tim Huebner, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
September 18: Danielle Allen, “250 Years of Our Declaration of Independence: Why an Old Text Still Serves us Now” (McNeill Concert Hall, East Campus; 6pm) This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required, as seating is limited. (View Recording Below)
September 25: Banned Together: The Fight Against Censorship (6:30pm, McCoy Theatre)
September 25: Dan Sinykin, “Close Reading and Artificial Intelligence” (6pm, University of Memphis, Bluff Room)
September 27: Multilingual Memphis Coffee Chat (9-11am, Spence Wilson Room, Briggs Hall)
September 30: Panel discussion of “Justice Without Execution” (5:30pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
October 6: Michael Lamb, “Character and the Constitution: What the Founders Can Teach Us about How to Keep Our Republic” (5pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall; 4:15pm reception)
October 14: Sarah Elizabeth Cornejo, Artist’s Talk (6pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
October 15: Eileen Cheng-yin Chow, “I eat, therefore I am: Asian Foodways in Migration” (5pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
October 16: Juliana Claassens, “Glad Tidings of Divine Fury? The Value of Trauma Theory for Facing the Warrior God in Nahum 1” (6pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
October 20: Rachel Buurma & Laura Heffernan, The Teaching Archive (TBD)
October 23: Curb /Rhodes Night at the Shell (7pm, Overton Park Shell)
October 30: Arn Chorn-Pond, “A Life of Music, Healing, and Hope,” Springfield Music Lecture (6pm, McNeill Concert Hall, East Campus)
November 6: Adeana McNicholl, Religious Studies/Asian Studies (2pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
November 6: Mark Oppenheimer, “What American Campuses Can Learn from South African Hate Speech Law” (5pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
November 12: Sarah Perry, Creative Writing (5pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
November 13: Evonne Levy, Art/Art History (5pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
November 13: Ramie Targoff, Shakespeare’s Sisters (6pm, Spence Wilson Room, Briggs Hall)
November 17: Kirk Curnutt, 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby (5:30pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
January 29: Lauren Klein, AI/Data analytics lecture (4:30pm, Frazier Jelke Lecture B)
February 3: Davis Schneiderman, Humanities Entrepreneurship (5pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
February 23: Mark Palmer, Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar (6pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
February 25: Karen Russell (5pm, McCallum Ballroom, BCLC)
March 27: David Boonin, AI ethics (4:30pm, Blount Auditorium, Buckman Hall)
Email: newstoks@rhodes.edu
Office: (901) 843-3744
Email: houcke@rhodes.edu
Office: (901) 843-3573
Charles Hughes, Associate Professor of History and Urban Studies
David Rupke, Professor of Physics
Sarah Rollens, Associate Professor and Chair of Religious Studies
Susan Satterfield, Professor and Chair of Ancient Mediterranean Studies
Etty Terem, Professor of History and J.J. McComb Chair of History
Stephen Wirls, Professor of Philosophy
ABOUT SPENCE WILSON: The center bears the name of respected Memphis businessman and philanthropist Spence Wilson, who has been a long-time supporter of Rhodes. Wilson served on the board for more than 40 years, nine as chairman. Wilson also has been a dedicated advocate and supporter of the humanities at Rhodes, and the Spence L. Wilson Distinguished Chair in Humanities was established more than a decade ago as an outgrowth of his involvement and love for the faculty and his long-term commitment to the humanities and the Memphis community. Having this center bear his name honors that commitment and highlights the humanities’ importance at Rhodes and positions it to serve as a national model. In 2009, Wilson was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the college. He and his wife, Becky, created the Spence L. Wilson Service Scholarship Program and the Spence Wilson Faculty International Travel Fund at Rhodes. They are members of the Peyton Nalle Rhodes Society, which recognizes the college’s most generous supporters. In addition, Wilson serves as a member of the Council of Emeriti Trustees at Rhodes.
Keep in Touch
If you would like to be added to the Wilson Center email list, please fill out this form. For more information, please email WilsonCenter@rhodes.edu.
