Faculty Spotlight
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. McKinley Melton
Associate Professor & Chair, Africana Studies
Tell us about yourself and your role at Rhodes.
My name is Dr. McKinley Melton, and I serve as Associate Professor and Chair of Africana Studies at Rhodes College. I primarily teach courses in 20th and 21st century African American literature and culture. This is my second year at Rhodes, and I’m especially excited to do Black Studies work in a majority-Black city like Memphis.
Tell us about your community involvement in Memphis.
As someone relatively new to Memphis, I’m still intentionally building community partnerships. What drew me to Rhodes was the opportunity to engage Black Studies scholarship in a city with such deep and complex Black history.
I’ve begun developing partnerships with the National Civil Rights Museum and the Institute for Race and Social Transformation, particularly through the Black Land Loss Narrative Archive Project. Rhodes is one of the first institutional partners in this national effort to collect and preserve stories of Black families whose land was taken through legal manipulation, theft, intimidation, or violence.
The project emerged after a landmark case in California successfully returned beachfront property to a Black family whose land had been seized through eminent domain. Following that victory, countless other families came forward with similar stories. While legal restitution is often difficult to secure, the Black Land Loss Narrative Archive preserves these narratives as a form of historical record, documentation, and, potentially, future justice.
What inspires or motivates you to get involved in community work?
I’ve always believed that when you make your home somewhere, you shouldn’t leave it exactly as you found it. Whether in high school, college, or graduate school, I’ve felt a responsibility to make a meaningful impact in the places where I live and work.
For me, community engagement is about asking: What positive influence can I contribute while I’m here? If something can be improved, supported, or strengthened through my presence and skills, I feel compelled to try.
Are there upcoming projects or courses connected to the community?
Yes. I recently received a grant from the Institute for Race and Social Transformation to develop a new course, tentatively titled:
“The Rule of Law: Black Americans and the U.S. Legal System.”
The course will partner with:
- Just City, where students will be trained as court watchers, observing and documenting local court proceedings.
- MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, where students will engage with journalists covering legal and justice-related issues.
Importantly, the course will explore law beyond mass incarceration—examining real estate, education, healthcare, and citizenship rights to broaden how we understand the legal system’s impact on Black communities.
How can others get involved?
One direct way is to enroll in community-engaged courses like the one I’m developing. But beyond that, I encourage students to look for opportunities that move them beyond campus gates—whether through classes, student organizations, faith communities, volunteer work, or partnerships aligned with their passions.
Memphis is a city rich with organizations and initiatives already doing meaningful work. If you begin with what matters most to you, there is almost certainly a place—or a community—ready to welcome you.
Staff Spotlight: Darlene Brooks
Director, Paul Barret, Jr. Library
Tell us about yourself and your role at Rhodes.
My name is Darlene Brooks, and I serve as the Director of the Paul Barret, Jr. Library. I have been at Rhodes for 25.5 years, and it has been a privilege to support students, faculty, and staff through the work of the library.
Tell us about your work in the community.
Outside of Rhodes, I serve as the volunteer Children’s Ministry Leader at my church and am a member of our Community Outreach Ministry. Our church is intentionally located in the Hickory Hill area of Memphis because of the significant needs in the community, including poverty, food insecurity, struggling schools, and crime.
Through our Outreach Ministry, we support three local elementary schools by providing school uniforms and winter coats. We also maintain a small food pantry and a clothing closet for individuals and families who come to our church seeking assistance. On the second Saturday of each month, I help pack and distribute food boxes to families in need.
What inspires or motivates you to do this work?
There are so many people in Memphis—especially children—who need help. I believe that if everyone contributes a little, it can go a long way. Children who receive support and encouragement may be inspired to build a life that looks different from the circumstances they are growing up in. That possibility motivates me.
What role does the library play in connecting Rhodes to Memphis?
While the library may not always play a direct role in community engagement, we provide important support. The building offers space for student organizations to meet and plan service initiatives. We also host donation drives for food and books.
I serve as a co-advisor, alongside the Assistant Director of Barret Library, to the Mortar Board Honor Society. Each year, Mortar Board leads a book donation drive for a local organization. In recent years, those donations have supported the Binghampton Development Corporation. It’s meaningful to see students use campus resources to support the broader Memphis community.
How can others get involved?
There are organizations all over Memphis that need volunteers to help provide services to people in need. I encourage others to find opportunities that align with their interests and commit to serving in whatever way they can.
One perspective I hold:
For years, I’ve noticed the same individuals asking for help at certain street corners in Memphis. I’ve heard different stories about how that system works, and it reminds me how complex poverty and need can be in our city. Service requires compassion, awareness, and a willingness to look deeper.
Student Spotlight: Anaya Bond ’27
Environmental Sciences Major | Bonner Scholar
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Anaya Bond, and I am a member of the Class of 2027 majoring in Environmental Sciences. I’m originally from Jackson, Tennessee.
Tell us about your community involvement experience.
For the past three years, I have served with the American Red Cross, working with both the Mid-South and Mid-West chapters. I primarily assist with blood drives that benefit individuals with sickle-cell disease and help with the annual Red Boa Bash, which raises funds for families impacted by house fires.
What inspires or motivates you to get involved in the community?
My Bonner community inspires me because they remind me that I am never alone in the challenging yet rewarding experiences of service. I look forward to spending time with people who have dedicated their lives to serving something bigger than themselves. They inspire me to become the best version of myself and to never be afraid to follow my passions. Many hardworking community members have also taught me valuable coping skills that I carry with me every day.
What do you love about it?
I love the networking opportunities I’ve gained since stepping outside of my comfort zone and meeting people I might not have otherwise encountered. I’ve built meaningful and lasting connections with individuals who support my journey toward a career in environmental health.
How has your experience shaped your commitment to Memphis?
My service experience has introduced me to wonderful people who have become like extended family. Along the way, I’ve learned more about Memphis, about myself, and about how to use my strengths effectively. Serving alongside devoted community leaders has inspired me to continue advocating for environmental justice and health equity within Memphis and beyond.
What’s one thing you want others to know about getting involved?
A wise person once told me, “Service is not for the faint of heart.” It’s not easy giving your time, energy, and heart—especially when your efforts may go unnoticed. But every act of service matters, big or small. It’s also important to prioritize self-care and remind yourself why you chose to serve in the first place.
How can others get involved?
Students can connect with organizations like Bonner and Kinney to explore service opportunities. The American Red Cross is also always looking for volunteers of all ages. From Disaster Cycle Services to supporting blood donation logistics, there are many ways to serve. You can learn more at redcross.org/volunteer.
One perspective I hold:
Community service is not just what you do outside the gates of Rhodes—it’s also how you treat people inside the gates.
Community Partner Spotlight: Tiffany Ford ’95
Chief Administrative Officer, National Civil Rights Museum
Tell us about yourself and your role.
My name is Tiffany Ford, Rhodes Class of 1995, and I serve as the Chief Administrative Officer at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
I originally joined the museum as the Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives. Not long after arriving, we secured the funding and opportunity to complete a major renovation of our legacy building. Dr. Russ Wigginton asked me to serve as the project manager for the renovation, which I have been leading for the past several years.
How would you describe the National Civil Rights Museum’s impact on Memphis and beyond?
The museum holds both local and global significance. Because Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at this site, we serve as an important space for preserving history and reflecting on the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.
Our upcoming renovation, titled “The Legacy,” focuses on preserving and expanding Dr. King’s impact by exploring how the Civil Rights Movement continues to influence movements today. We highlight not only civil rights history, but also the broader movements that have followed—from LGBTQ+ rights to immigration, women’s rights, environmental justice, and public safety.
In many ways, Memphis and the museum are inseparable. You cannot tell the story of Memphis without this institution, and you cannot tell the story of this institution without Memphis.
What inspires you to do this work?
There is still so much work to be done. People are still facing injustice, hunger, discrimination, and barriers to opportunity. Those realities remind me why institutions like the National Civil Rights Museum remain important.
Our work continues until those inequities no longer exist.
What role do institutions like Rhodes play in this work?
Rhodes is a unique institution. As a small liberal arts college located in a major city, it carries a special responsibility—and opportunity—to connect academic learning with the realities of the surrounding community.
Learning in real time, in the places where history actually happened, is one of the most powerful ways students can understand social movements and the ongoing work of justice.
As a Rhodes alum myself, that connection between the classroom and the community had a lasting impact on me.
How can students and community members get involved with the museum?
One of the main ways students engage with us is through internships. We are committed to paying every intern. If we do not have funding available, we do not offer the position. That commitment is important to us because we believe strongly that students should never be expected to provide free labor.
Right now, our interns are helping digitize parts of our historical collection, including materials related to civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. These projects allow students to gain experience in archival work, museum studies, and digital preservation.
Beyond internships, we host public programs year-round, including film screenings, book talks, panel discussions, and national convenings. I encourage people to follow the museum on social media and attend events whenever possible.
Is there a project you’re especially proud of?
Without question, the current renovation project. I often joke that I’m a social worker turned construction project manager—I even earned my project management certification during the process.
Over the past three years, we have worked with scholars, architects, exhibit designers, and historians from across the country to rethink how we present Dr. King’s legacy. Two Rhodes faculty members were part of the scholarly team helping shape the exhibit content.
The new exhibits explore questions like “What is justice?” and connect historical struggles to modern movements. We also wanted visitors to see the full story—including the resilience, joy, and contributions of Black communities throughout American history.
The renovated museum will reopen on May 16, and we hope the community will join us for the celebration.
Why is staying connected to your community important?
What happens to your neighbors affects you. When people around us are supported, educated, and thriving, it strengthens the entire community.
Young people especially play a powerful role in shaping movements and creating change. That’s something we highlight in the museum as well—many of the most important social movements in history began with young leaders who chose to act.
How can people stay connected?
The best way is simply to stay engaged—visit the museum, attend programs, follow the work we’re doing, and participate in the conversations happening around civil rights and social change.
And when the renovated museum opens on May 16, I hope everyone will come back and experience the new exhibits.