Assistant Director of User Engagement and Experience
Rhodes College – Barret Library
Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3984
brummels@rhodes.edu
Steve manages the Help Desk for Information Services. He also serves as one of the library liaisons for the campus community. He started in October of 2019 and received the Outstanding Administrator Award for the 2022-2023 school year for his passion for serving the Rhodes College community. Steve is beginning a PhD program in Information Studies at Dominican University in Chicago, IL. He lives in Bartlett, TN with his wife and 13-year-old puppy, Nittany. Steve enjoys hosting game nights at his home with friends and family. This is his first year on the Staff Council and looks forward to being a positive representative for the amazing staff he has gotten to know through the years.
Physical Plant - Special Services
Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3870
careyr@rhodes.edu
Robert Carey is a member of the special services staff at Rhodes College. He started work for Rhodes as a temp hire and went on to become a full-time hire grounds crew member, and later moved to special services. In his spare time, Robert mentors kids at the Boys & Girls Club. He is the 2022-2023 Outstanding Administrative Service Award recipient. He will help to ensure that the Staff Advisory Council improves communication and motivation for all Rhodes College staff.
Manager of Campus Scheduling (College Events)
Chair, Rhodes College Staff Advisory Council
901-843-3596
collierk@rhodes.edu
Kevin Collier handles requests for use of campus spaces and resources for everything that does not involve regularly scheduled credit-bearing classes. As a graduate of the Rhodes class of 1990 with a degree in theatre, Collier credits his education in the liberal arts with bringing together his many academic interests inside one discipline. After graduating from Rhodes, he coordinated Tulane University publications before returning to Memphis in 1997 and working in the advertising sector. He joined the Rhodes staff in 2005 as the business manager of the theatre department and moved into a position with College Events in 2020. He is devoted to improving the plight of rescue dogs, and after evangelizing the Burning Man Project as a regional contact since 2000, he might have a few more years of dusty adventure left. He believes in the importance of the Staff Advisory Council because while our faculty imparts knowledge and our students learn/grow, the staff are the shadow individuals who connect it all behind the scenes and make the machine hum.
Campus Safety Sergeant
Rhodes College Staff Advisory Council Representative
Morale & Community Building Committee
(901)843-3880
garrettf@rhodes.edu
Vigilant security officer with over 17 years of experience organizing and overseeing safety and security in a collegiate setting. Fred started at Rhodes in 2007, and he has received several Campus Safety and Outstanding Administrative Staff Awards. In addition to his work at Rhodes, Fred loves spending time with his family, and collecting fragrances. Fred has two sons, two daughters, and a stepdaughter. He enjoys watching football, baseball and working in his yard. He believes Staff Council can make a positive impact for all college staff, improving workplace culture, morale, and collaboration to advance the Rhodes College mission.
Head Volleyball Coach
Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3910
green@rhodes.edu
Manager of Talent Acquisition & Development
Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3129
hotardm@rhodes.edu
As the Manager of Talent Acquisition & Development, Mariah Hotard is responsible for hiring staff employees, conducting new hire staff orientation, and advising staff on job descriptions and performance reviews. She joined Rhodes College in 2021 and was recently accepted into the 10th CUPA-HR Ignite cohort (HR leadership development program). Being a Louisiana native, she enjoys LSU football and considers herself a “foodie.” Hotard loves traveling and spending time with loved ones, including her pride and joy, Winston (adorable, fun loving, Maltipoo who enjoys walking on his two hind legs). As a member of the Staff Advisory Council, Hotard is excited to support the staff community and to help cultivate a stronger campus culture. She is passionate about the council’s initiatives and knows the team will have a profound effect.
Director, Health Professions Advising
Vice Chair, Rhodes Staff Advisory Council
901-843-3081
kelsoj@rhodes.edu
Housekeeper - Physical Plant
Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3870
longstreet@rhodes.edu
Sharon grew up in Mississippi and later moved to Memphis. Sharon and her husband, Alonzo, have 4 daughters, 13 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. She started at Rhodes in 1997 as a housekeeper. She works in the BCLC, keeping our campus clean and safe. She assists with events in the Ballroom and volunteers for the student pancake break during exams. In May 2020, she received the Outstanding Administrative Service Staff award at Rhodes. In 2021 and 2023 she served on the committee for the Outstanding Administrative Service Staff awards. Sharon has also been an entrepreneur in the furniture and floral business for 35 years. In her spare time she likes gardening and volunteering in her neighborhood. She believes the Staff Advisory Council can build morale and strengthen and promote a safer workplace by developing effective solutions.
Amanda Law Maxson, MBA
She/her
Registrar
Academic Affairs
Professional Development Committee
901-843-3010
maxsona@rhodes.edu
Amanda is a Rhodes alum (class of 2010) and native Memphian. As the College’s student record steward, she maintains student information and tracks trends in enrollment and course demand. Amanda oversees the registration process from course-building to enrollment verification and upholds the policies of the institution outlined in the College Catalogue. She served as a key member of the implementation team Rhodes’ transition to Workday as its primary information system. As Registrar, Amanda serves on multiple faculty committees, and she strives to keep student success and improving process at the forefront of her decision-making. When not on campus, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband, visiting assistant professor, David Maxson, and their smart and energetic four-year-old daughter. Eager to make the Rhodes community as strong and inclusive as it can be, Amanda is honored to serve as an inaugural member of the Staff Advisory Council.
System Administrator, IT Services
Staff Advisory Council Representative
Advocacy Committee
901.843.3357
millerm2@rhodes.edu
Mark is involved in the day-to-day operations of Rhodes' virtual IT infrastructure along with routine maintenance, upgrades, and future planning. He handles daily requests for a myriad of cloud-based and on-premises systems, including vendor applications. Mark joined Rhodes in 2018 and enjoys getting to work with the entire Rhodes Community in the course of his duties. Mark and his wife are proud parents of two adult children, in addition to their rescued Boxer, Remington, and rescued kitty, Marcus. Mark is a fierce advocate for the Arts and local music, and when he’s not handling IT issues, he usually has a pair of drumsticks in his hands. An avid drummer since the age of 14, he’s played with many local bands over the years and dabbles in the odd bit of woodworking on occasion. Mark is grateful and humbled by this opportunity to serve on the Staff Advisory Council and looks forward to collaborating with Staff colleagues in furtherance of the Rhodes College mission.
Payroll Manager
Advisory Staff Council Representative
901-843-3144
nesmitht@rhodes.edu
Tina NeSmith, Payroll Manager, is a citizen of Cherokee Nation, a mother, a grandmother, and a finance professional with 23 years dedicated to Rhodes College. She grew up in Southern California, where she enjoyed surfing, amusement parks, and the mountains. As a young woman, her family returned to the Cherokee Reservation in Oklahoma to take care of her grandfather, during which time she met her husband, Tom, of 45 years and had two children. In the 1990s she relocated to Memphis, TN, and has lived in the Evergreen District of Midtown since. Tina enjoys riding her bike to work through Overton Park, visiting the Memphis Zoo with her grandkids, camping, and frequenting her favorite Memphis music venue Lafayette's. As a part of the staff council, she hopes to be helpful in identifying training opportunities to enhance college operations and improve efficiency.
Administrative Assistant II
Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3550
Nevillev@rhodes.edu
Valarie Neville is an Administrative Assistant II in the Strategic Initiatives Division where she assists the team with administrative activities and coordinates various administrative processes and projects. She has been at Rhodes 2+ years. She is originally from Kansas City and relocated with her husband to Tennessee in 2018. Valarie has two daughters, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. In her spare time, she loves to travel and has a passion for exercise and walking. She believes the Council is an important initiative and can make a positive impact in the Rhodes Community.
(she/her)
Director of Advancement Services, Strategy, and Stewardship
Senior Planned Giving Officer
Rhodes Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3740
soulen@rhodes.edu
Nicki leads the team responsible for Advancement data acquisition, management, and integrity, Advancement reporting and business process analysis, prospect research and identification, and stewardship. She also serves as the college’s subject matter expert supporting the planned giving program at Rhodes. Nicki is a 1993 graduate of the college and the parent of a member of the class of 2025. Nicki is also a member of the Rhodes chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, where she serves on the membership committee. Outside of her work at Rhodes, Nicki is the parent of twins and a rescue dog named Emmett. She is passionate about travel and is an avid reader. Nicki is a member of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where she is part of the Social Justice ministry team and facilitates Sacred Ground, a dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Nicki is honored to be a representative to the inaugural Rhodes Staff Advisory Council and looks forward to the work we will do together.
(she/her)
Director of Admission
Staff Advisory Council Representative
X3225
starlingm@rhodes.edu
Megan, Class of 2002, returned to serve in the Office of Admission in 2009. She first served as an Assistant Director of Admission, primarily responsible for traveling and recruiting students from specific areas of the country. In her current role as Director, she continues to recruit students, but is also responsible for the bigger picture in admission practices as well as empowering the world’s best admission counseling team. In 2013, the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling honored her with the Rising Star Award. She was recognized by Rhodes as the Outstanding Staff Member at the 2017 Campus Life Awards. Megan and her husband, Justin (also ’02), stay busy with three children, who will often be spotted on campus. They see Rhodes and its community as a second home! The Starlings spend lots of time in Overton Park, where Megan enjoys going for runs after work. Free time is hard to come by, but soaking up all that Memphis has to offer, including its amazing food and cultural events, is a priority.
Megan was likely among the first to express interest in the Staff Advisory Council, giving voice to essential members of the Rhodes community. She is excited that staff will have a formal body to provide advocacy and collaboration.
(she/her)
Director, Career Services
Staff Advisory Council Representative and Secretary
Subcommittee: Professional Development
901-843-3801
tracy@rhodes.edu
Sandi George Tracy has served as Director of Career Services at Rhodes since September 1990. As Director, Sandi oversees the vision and direction of Career Services. Sandi is fortunate to have a great team in Career Services who lead various career programs including employer relations, internship programs, career counseling/advising for students, and educational workshops/events. Outside of Career Services, Sandi has served in various campus-wide initiatives including the start of the RSA program, Open Rhodes orientation, and the Staff Advisory Council. Sandi has been married to Joel Tracy for over 30 years and together they have three adult children, Alexa (Steven), Ben (Kiyona), and Will. Sandi is also smitten with a charming two-year-old grandson, Madden. Sandi is excited about the work of the Rhodes Staff Council and is confident that this council will have a positive impact for staff and the overall health of the campus community.
(he/him)
Video Producer
Rhodes College Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3712
vandrimmelene@rhodes.edu
Ethan van Drimmelen produces videos to recruit students and advance the college’s reputation. He started at Rhodes in 2019 and received the honor of “Supervisor of the Year” at the 2023 Campus Life Awards. Ethan received this award through involvement in the Rhodes Student Associate program, mentoring student employees. In addition to his work at Rhodes, Ethan is passionate about home improvement and learning handy skills on YouTube. Ethan is the proud father of 3 kids. His ‘family circus’ includes a rescue dog named Shiloh. Ethan enjoys woodworking and gardening. He believes the Staff Advisory Council can make a positive impact for all college staff, improving workplace culture, morale, and collaboration to advance the Rhodes College mission.
Head Women's Basketball Coach/ Co-Compliance Director
Rhodes Staff Advisory Council Representative
901-843-3020
vigneullej@rhodes.edu
Judi Vigneulle-Thurman is the head women’s basketball coach and has been at Rhodes since August of 2019. Since being at Rhodes she has had the honor of being a part of three teams that have won the SAA conference tournament championship and received three automatic bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament (2021, 2022, 2023). Outside of work, Judi and her husband, Troy, enjoy finding new parks to go explore, watching sports, serving at their local church and in the community, and spending time with family and friends. Judi is looking forward to serving on this committee to collaborate with other colleagues to help advance Rhodes College mission.
Chaplain (She/her)
Staff Advisory Council Representative
Chaplain@rhodes.edu
Chaplain Beatrix Weil offers emotional and spiritual support to students and supports religious flourishing at Rhodes College. Since her time at Rhodes College began in 2018, she has provided Muslim prayer mats in every indoor space she oversees--the Muslim prayer room, the Interfaith Lounge, and the two residence hall chapels. When she’s not advocating for students’ religious needs, she is advocating for shifting power from institutions to locals. Her home is made up of herself, her partner, and their two dogs. She is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and believes that working on the Staff Advisory Council Constitution was one of the most Presbyterian things she’s done in her life. In addition to Presbyterian geekdom, she enjoys dancing and playing board games. Beatrix wants to increase job satisfaction among her peers, so that someone debates her when she declares that she has the best job at Rhodes College.