TAMIU Annual Report 2021

Family members, University colleagues, friends and former students of the late TAMIU faculty member Dr. Frances “Panchita” Gates Rhodes welcomed her home to her beloved Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library this October. They were gathered for an intimate unveiling and dedication of the new Dr. Frances “Panchita” Gates Rhodes Children’s and Young Adult Literature Collection on the Killam Library’s second floor. The Collection spans some 15,644 items, memorializing Rhodes’ research and teaching. A plaque honoring her over 38 years of service heralds the Collection. TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz welcomed guests and shared memories, noting Rhodes’ faculty mentorship and role as faculty ombudsman. “Panchita was the heart and soul of our faculty. It was a role that just came to her naturally because she truly loved this University, and all that it represented and made possible for students, faculty and staff,” Dr. Arenaz said. Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Tom Mitchell recalled Rhodes’ legacy. “Dr. Rhodes was a passionate advocate for her discipline, for her students, for her colleagues, and for TAMIU. The students, graduates, and colleagues she inspired easily number in the thousands. And she was a hugger too. Everyone knew she cared for them. Through this Collection, her orbit will continue to widen and inspire others for generations to come,” Dr. Mitchell said. In remarks from the family, Dr. Rhodes’ eldest daughter, Bianca Rhodes Spies, said the dedication had very special meaning. “I’m honored to see her colleagues and former students and hear such kind words about my Mom. Having this Collection bear her name is truly the most meaningful gift we could have ever received, because she was a storyteller. She would have loved this, and I know she is beaming from above,” Spies said. Rhodes retired in May 2020 as a much-admired and respected associate professor of English, former chair and, at the time of her retirement, senior lecturer at TAMIU. Her passing in January from COVID-19 was felt deeply at the University. She had the distinction of being a former Laredo State University graduate (’78, ’79) who would return to become a faculty member in the very classrooms that molded her academic pursuits. In addition to linguistics, Dr. Rhodes’ research included children’s literature, especially that of the Holocaust, young adult literature, language in contact, and the importance of storytelling. Completely bilingual in English and Spanish, she was a frequent guest in Laredo and Eagle Pass classrooms for children’s reading programs, and a lifelong advocate for the importance of folklore study. To view our event livestream, visit: go.tamiu.edu/rhodes-livestream LIBRARY COLLECTION HONORS BELOVED ALUM, FACULTY MEMBER AND FRIEND, DR. FRANCES “PANCHITA” GATES RHODES Family members join before plaque that heralds the 15,644-item Dr. Frances “Panchita” Gates Rhodes Children’s and Young  Adult Literature Collection. ALUMNI 19