Located at the heart of the city, the University of Memphis’ vibrant campus extends a feeling of Tiger pride into the surrounding neighborhoods and community.
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University of Memphis
The university brings athletics, the arts, music, and more to the city of Memphis through football games at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, basketball games at FedExForum, matches at the Leftwich Tennis Center, musical performances at the Scheidt Performing Arts Center, and art exhibits at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM) and the C.H. Nash Museum at the Prehistoric Chucalissa.
As the city’s only traditional four-year university to hold Carnegie R1 status, the University of Memphis drives innovation in its community as one of the country’s top research institutions. Collectively, University of Memphis faculty recently surpassed more than $101 million in research awards.
Students can enhance their educational and professional experience during internships and other opportunities with partnering organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Among them is University of Memphis sophomore chemistry major Blake Robinson, who is working with a team of St. Jude researchers developing treatments for epilepsy. This experience, he said, is inspiring his interest in a career as a physician-scientist.
“As a University of Memphis student, working in a world-class research environment like St. Jude has given me the opportunity to apply what I have learned in the classroom and has shaped my passion for medical research,” Robinson said. “Helping to develop treatments for children at St. Jude and around the world has shown me the difference science and compassion can make together.”
University of Memphis
- Year Founded: 1912
- Number of Employees: 2,400+
- Industry Sector: Higher Education
“Working in a world-class research environment like St. Jude has given me the opportunity to apply what I have learned in the classroom and has shaped my passion for medical research.” - Blake Robinson, Sophomore, Chemistry Major
Collaboration also is key to the success of research endeavors at the University of Memphis, where faculty are building on partnerships that originally brought them to the city. Matthew Smeltzer, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health in the School of Public Health, moved to Memphis to work as a biostatistician at St. Jude.
“I was honored to spend 11 years developing collaborations for sickle cell and cancer projects before transitioning into my current role at the University of Memphis,” Smeltzer said. “For the last decade, I’ve been able to work with many of the same partners while leading my own independent research.”
The University of Memphis partners with St. Jude on several projects including HPV cancer prevention and the Hurt-2-Healing (H2H) Program, the nation’s first hospital-based, integrated pediatric behavioral health model for pediatric trauma patients.
In fall 2024, the University of Memphis launched its own Innovative School District for University Schools, which serves more than 1,300 students from six weeks through 11th grade (growing to 12th grade for the 2025-26 school year). University Schools is the highest-performing school system in Tennessee and produces research findings that shape policies, practices, and learning across Memphis, the state, region, and country.