Ms. Iris Mercado is the Interim Associate Director for The Lynne & Henry Turley Memphis Center and Program Coordinator of Urban Studies at Rhodes College, where she oversees student fellows and experiential learning opportunities in Memphis. A Memphis local and an alumna of Rhodes College’s Urban Studies Program, after graduating Iris continued her life-long work to advance immigrant and refugee rights in the mid-south and later transitioned into healthcare where she developed and implemented cultural awareness and humility training for professionals in the education and healthcare fields.
Iris focuses her efforts on housing justice creating community-led affordable housing initiatives operating in the Binghampton neighborhood of Memphis, TN. In 2019, Iris returned to Rhodes College as a Program Coordinator for Urban Studies and The Lynne & Henry Turley Memphis Center to support and advance their mission of empowering people to create social change in Memphis.
Students interested in internships and paid fellowship opportunities are encouraged to reach out to Ms. Mercado to discuss how to apply their academic interests to field experiences.
Community Involvement
Board Member, Binghampton Community Land Trust (2019 - Present)
Board of Directors, Memphis For All (2021 - Present)
