Portraits of six recent graduates are being added to Rhodes College’s Hall of Fame on the second floor of Southwestern Hall. The honorees are Jasmine Jeffries, Olivia Mack, Joshua Morris, Ariyana Muesse, Jude Shive, and KK Sowers.
Selection to the Hall of Fame, which was established in 1931, is based on individual merit, leadership in student activities, service to others, and overall contributions to the campus community. Honorees are chosen by student leaders through a confidential selection process. Election to the Hall of Fame is considered one of the highest honors that can come to a student.
Jasmine Jeffries of Memphis majored in art history with a double minor in studio art and educational studies. She arrived at Rhodes as a Clarence Day Scholar dedicated to community service. In that role, she served as the festival programming and operations coordinator for Memphis’ inaugural Children’s Film Festival. Jeffries is synthesizing impact data from the festival into a research thesis and a children’s book. Her passion for the arts is evident through her internships with the Germantown Community Theatre and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. She has also been a fellow for the Lynne & Henry Turley Memphis Center for Community Engagement at Rhodes and for the Memphis Art Project. She served as chair of the Rhodes Activities Board creativity committee, a peer assistant, an admission office senior fellow, and vice president of the Rhodes chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority.
Olivia Mack, an educational studies and history major from Baton Rouge, La., has been a dedicated member of the Omicron Xi chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She served as the community service chair on the National Pan-Hellenic Council at Rhodes, where she led a community-wide initiative to raise funds for Christmas gifts for a local family. As vice president of Rhodes Student Government for 2024-2025, Mack initiated programs to connect students with local minority-owned businesses and organized bonding activities for the senators and cabinet, culminating in a dodgeball tournament with participation from every branch of RSG. Additionally, she served as event coordinator for the Black Student Association, treasurer of Contents Under Pressure improv troupe, and was crowned 2025 Rhodes Royalty during the college’s Homecoming. In the Memphis community, Mack has volunteered with Literacy Mid-South.
Joshua Morris from Golden, Colo., pursued a double major in chemistry and neuroscience. He went abroad in 2023 to study traditional medicine and public health in Madagascar and plans to attend medical school in Florida next year. Morris participates in research within the chemistry department, focusing on drug design, and is also pursuing a minor in mathematics. Through Rhodes’ off-campus City Lynx program, he worked at Room in the Inn to serve the unhoused population of Memphis, helping coordinate shelter logistics and data management. On campus, he has spurred the growth of the Rhodes Outdoor Organization, leading signature events and trips, and held various leadership roles culminating in his presidency for 2025-2026. He also was a peer assistant, a Health Professions Advising ambassador, a representative on the Allocations and Student Organization Commission, and a member of both the South Asian Culture and Advocacy organization and Reformed University Fellowship.
Ariyana Muesse, a political science and international studies bridge major from Memphis, served as vice president of the South Asian Culture and Advocacy organization at Rhodes. She has played a key role in planning and executing large-scale campus events celebrating the diverse cultures, histories, and traditions of people with roots in South Asia. Over the past four years, Muesse participated in the college’s ACCESS Mentors program, first as a mentee and then as a mentor, helping students reach their full potential through personalized guidance and academic resources. She also is president of the Alumni Ambassador Association that works in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations to strengthen student-alumni relationships. Additionally, Muesse held various leadership roles within her sorority, Chi Omega, served as a Lynx Ambassador tour guide, participated on the college’s Elections Commission, and served as a senator for the Class of 2026. Off campus, Muesse worked as an intern for Greer Injury Lawyers and for the Memphis and Shelby County Film Commission.
Jude Shive, a mathematics major from Nashville, conducted research focused on how students learn and understand subtraction to identify patterns in mathematical interpretations. He spent time as a peer tutor, assisting classmates in mastering complicated mathematics courses. Shive is known for his support of fellow students, frequently attending their events. He was crowned 2025 Rhodes Royalty during the college’s Homecoming. In addition, Shive served as a peer assistant for the past three years, was on the leadership team for the Reformed University Fellowship, and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, along with many other campus organizations. Shive was president of the Rhodes chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society that recognizes leadership and scholarship.
Kaitlyn “KK” Sowers, a psychology major completing Honors Research, is from Frisco, Texas. She also pursued a minor in educational studies. Her research focused on the mental health and development of children and adolescents, and she also explored how social contexts influence the ways children tell stories and express social cognition. In the Department of Psychology, Sowers received the Lainoff Fellowship and the Margaret Ruffin Hyde Award to support her summer research. She has presented her work at several conferences, including her honors research at the Cognitive Development Society in Montreal, Canada. As a member of the women’s volleyball team, Sowers earned a place on the SAA Academic Honor Roll for all four years and was named to the SAA All-Sportsmanship Team for the last two years. On campus, she was a student worker in the athletics department, was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and served as a peer coach.
