Last semester, Amaura Calhoun stepped into an elevator to go to her Business Hospitality course and struck up a conversation with a stranger.
“He asked me, ‘Where are you from?’ and I’m literally trying to get my whole elevator pitch going,” said Calhoun, a junior Hospitality and Resort Management major.
Little did she know it was Doug Browne, president of Peabody Hotel & Resorts, and he was on his way to her class to speak with them about his professional journey in the hospitality industry.
She left class that day not only with valuable career advice but also won a free night’s stay at the historic Peabody Hotel.
Calhoun who is from Pike Road, Ala., said experiences like these are what excite her the most about being a student at the University of Memphis — opportunities to network and engage.
But prior to being a UofM student, Calhoun was attending Northwest Mississippi Community College and did not know much about the University of Memphis or even the city.
It was through the One Step Closer Program that she learned more about what both offered.
Her aunt, who worked at Northwest Mississippi Community College, connected her with admissions counselor Connor Bankey and Deborah J. Thompson, academic advisor in the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management, so she could sign up.
One Step Closer is a semester-long program designed to support students toward gaining admission to the UofM by working directly with an admission team member on the transfer process.
“I thought doing the program would be a really good idea because I didn’t know much about the University of Memphis or even the city, I thought it would be a great resource for me to learn more about what they offered on and off campus.”
The program offers two pathways to become a Tiger. The first is for students who are currently enrolled and in good academic standing at partner community colleges: Dyersburg State Community College, Jackson State Community College, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Southwest Tennessee Community College. Students at non-partner community colleges are also eligible and encouraged to apply to the program.
The other is for alternative pathways applicants who are high school graduates who reside in Shelby County and were not admitted to the University of Memphis for the Summer or Fall semester. These applicants are automatically considered for the One Step Closer program and as part of the program, students will be directly admitted to local partner Southwest Tennessee Community College, to begin their college journey — without needing to submit a separate application. An option is also available for non-Shelby County residents.
“The One Step Closer Program allows community college students unprecedented access to the University of Memphis through dedicated enrollment assistance, transfer credit guidance, support resources and a taste of the UofM student experience,” said Matthew D. Rhodes, assistant director of Transfer Admissions.
“Our goal is to ensure that no transfer student feels lost or uncertain throughout their transition from their previous institution. One of my greatest professional joys is assisting students through One Step Closer and seeing them go from having interest, to excitement, to enrollment, to success at the University of Memphis.”
The program has seen growth. Fall 2025 participation is nearly four times greater than any previous semesters and includes students from several institutions.
Other benefits include:
- Access to the recreation centers and libraries
- Admission to sporting events
- Flexibility: Community College students can transfer when they are ready
As part of the program, Calhoun was introduced to Transfer Student Orientation which is offered virtually or in person. She was encouraged to attend in person where she learned that for the first time that year, transfer students would be eligible to attend Frosh Camp, a summer camp experience for UofM freshmen.
“I texted a friend I met at Transfer Student Orientation and was like ‘If you go, I’ll go,’” Calhoun said.
“So, we both went. I’d never been to a summer camp before. I loved it and met so many people. My cabin was the one with the most transfer students, so I was really able to connect with a lot of people who are still my close friends today — my cabin friends, my cabin siblings — as I like to call them to this day. So, One Step Closer helped me to get to that point.”
Serving as an ambassador for Kemmons Wilson School, Calhoun said she chose hospitality because she loves helping people. So, she is giving back by helping transfer students like herself, feel more in community. She recently created the Transfer Student Association (TSA) which is now officially a Registered Student Organization.
“I came up with the nickname TSA and then the theme is also travel because transfer students come from all over,” she said. “I’m the shy type, so if I notice someone who transferred from the same school, I always encourage others to connect with them. Programs like One Step Closer brought me my foundation at Memphis.”
