Sewanee Event Highlights

March 26, 4:30 p.m.
Naylor St. Luke's Chapel

Please join the Department of English and Creative Writing in welcoming Michael Pontacoloni for a reading from his collection of poems Anadromous Fish of the Farmington River, an intriguing book that explores personal history, environmental degradation, and the serial murders that inspired Arsenic and Old Lace. Described as possessing "language as fresh and clarion as the river it exalts," Anadromous Fish of the Farmington River was selected by Maggie Millner as winner of the 2025 Quarterly West Chapbook Contest. Pontacoloni holds a Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi and an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

March 26, 7 p.m.
Guerry Auditorium 

Join guest artists Edward Vogel, baritone, and Jenny Parker, piano, for an evening of exquisite poetry and music in the British tradition. The 20th century saw distinct national styles emerge in western classical music. Exploring universal themes of love, loss, and life’s journey, this program broadens the horizons of art song lovers, while introducing the genre in an approachable way to those new to it.

March 28, 3 p.m. 
Guerry Auditorium 

Vocalist Victoria Ryan, C’26, invites you to Mosaic, consisting of all musical theatre repertoire. The program navigates how we are inevitably shaped by the different places we encounter, and the relationships we create with others. With Vicki Collinsworth, piano, and guest vocalists Anne Marie Florida and Wayne Medley. This program contains mature language.

March 30
7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Participants drop off edible entries at duPont Library
1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Public viewing and voting 
4 p.m. Winners announced and reception
Jessie Ball duPont Library, Main Lobby

The Edible Books Festival celebrates the joy of books and creativity through edible works of art inspired by your favorite book or author. Create a clever pun, design something shaped like a book, or reimagine a literary classic—make sure it’s edible! Draw inspiration from previous years’ entries or the International Edible Books Festival. Register here.

April 1, 4:30 p.m.
Torian Room, duPont Library

The Babson Center Presents the Bryan Viewpoints Lecture Series with Dr. Mike Waldrum, C'84, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

March 25, 7:30 p.m.
Convocation Hall 

A reading by Dr. David Haskell. Hosted by the departments of Environmental Arts and Humanities, English & Creative Writing, Biology, and the Dakin Fund. Dr. Haskell's book will be available for purchase during the event If you plan to attend and need an accommodation, please email lrburner@sewanee.edu.

March 25, 11:30 a.m. 
McGriff Alumni House

Join the ADA Office for our 4th annual ADA Talk. This year, we welcome Diane Lynch, who will share her experiences as a sign language interpreter within the Episcopal Church. Lynch will be interviewed by Sophie Daniels, Co-Director of Sewanee's Disabled Student Alliance. Together, we’ll explore disability identity, inclusion, and what belonging looks like in community. Alll are welcome. Finger foods and drinks provided.

March 24, 7 p.m. 
Convocation Hall 

In The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi (Penguin Books), Thompson grounds his understanding of the lynching of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago, in the historic soil of the Mississippi Delta, zeroing in on the barn where the torture and murder took place and that still stands today. Thompson’s appearance  is sponsored by the University's Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation, in partnership with the Sewanee School of Letters and the Sewanee Review.  In connection with Thompson’s visit, the Roberson Project is offering a complimentary copy to anyone in the greater Sewanee area who would like one. To get your copy, please write to us at robersonproject@sewanee.edu. Book clubs are especially welcome to request multiple copies. But hurry because our supply is limited. There will be pizza for students starting at 6:45 p.m.

March 24, 12:30 p.m.
Gailor 132 

The School of Letters will sponsor a writing workshop for students and alumni with Wright Thompson, School of Letters Director Justin Taylor (Riding With the Ghost, 2020), and alum and author Patrick Dean (Window to Heaven, 2021) entitled "How To Write Hard Things." We'll have sandwiches from the Mountain Goat and sodas on hand for lunch. Thompson is a senior writer for ESPN, contributing writer to the Atlantic, and is the New York Times bestselling author of Pappyland and The Cost of These Dreams. His most recent book, The Barn, was nominated for a PEN America Literary Award. It was named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Slate, Vanity Fair, Time, Kirkus, Smithsonian, and more.

March 19 - 21, 7:30 p.m. 
Studio Theatre at the Tennessee Williams Center

Jumping through time, King James follows two young men in Cleveland, Ohio, over the course of 14 years, using key moments in the career of NBA superstar LeBron James as the backdrop for the ebbs and flow of their friendship. In this examination of male friendship, race, and the frameworks necessary for people to make meaningful connections, this play investigates the systems that challenge our ability to live in community, connect and challenge one another, and to simply say “I care about you.” Written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph, this emotionally driven play is for theatre fans, sports fans, and fans of friendship. Get your free tickets here.

March 20, 6 p.m.
Convocation Hall

Welcoming caller T-Claw and the Stones River Reelers. This dance is sponsored by the Sewanee Greenhouse and other Sewanee student organizations. We’ll see you there for a fun night of dancing!

March 19, 5 p.m.
Ayres Multicultural Center

Are you interested in joining a refreshing space where you can share, reflect, and connect with members of our community? Dan Hull (Ojibwe) and Christina Ulibarri (Dine) are Indigenous spiritual leaders and members of the Indigenous engagement committee at Sewanee. A Native American Talking Circle is a structured way for people to share without interruption, judgment, or hierarchy. People sit in a circle as equals and take turns speaking, using a “talking stick” that moves around so only the holder talks while everyone else listens.

March 19, 4:30 p.m.
Toriain Room, duPont Library

The Babson Center for Global Commerce welcomes Humphreys Entrepreneur in Residence Mark Balte, C’85, vice president for customer success at ketteQ. Balte received his Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Sewanee. Later, he earned his Master of Science in operations research from Georgia Tech, and he is now a supply chain executive and product strategist. The Humphreys Entrepreneur in Residence speaker series is made possible by a gift from Debra and David Humphreys, C’79. All are welcome.

March 19, Noon
McGriff Alumni House

Everyone is invited to join us for a CREATE Conversation featuring the actors of the play King James by Rajiv Joseph. Click the link to learn more about the play. The actors will join us in a conversation about how they've been taught to wrestle with their emotions as men, what it means to form meaningful relationships, and how tools like sports can create opportunities to engage in difficult dialogue. This conversation is made possible by the Truth, Community Healing, and Transformation Center at Sewanee, the Roberson Project, Perspectives in Performance, the Department of Theatre & Dance, the Office of Global Citizenship, the Walter E. Dakin Memorial Fund, University Lectures Committee, and the History Department.

March 18, 6 p.m.
Ayres Multicultural Center

St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17, but the Office of Community Building & Connections will keep the celebration going with Willie 6 Night on March 18. Join us as we highlight Irish culture and serve Irish-inspired dishes prepared right here on the Mountain. As with every Willie 6 Night, we will have great giveaways and facilitate an engaging cultural experience!

March 18, 5 p.m.
McGriff Alumni House

Brock Colyar is a features writer at New York Magazine. They will read from their forthcoming book Gender Bender, a portrait of the messy contradictions that constitute queerness today, from pronouns to nightlife to TERFs to chasers, examining what’s been lost and what’s been gained in the quest for acceptance. Coffee and light fare will be provided. 

March 3, 5 p.m.
Torian Room, duPont Library

Three faculty members will talk briefly about their recent research and publications. We will also host a reception in the main lobby of duPont Library following the panel presentations in recognition of all of our faculty for their work in research and publication. Kati Curts, Religious Studies; Alison Miller, Art and Art History; and Thomas Reppert, Psychology and Neuroscience, will share experiences about their research and projects. This event is cosponsored by the Friends of the Library, Office of the Dean of the College, and Library and Information Technology Services.

March 2, 5 p.m.
Studio Theatre, Tennessee Williams Center

This foundational workshop introduces actors to immersive and interactive theatre from a global perspective, highlighting how performers engage audiences as active participants rather than passive observers. Through accessible theory and hands-on exercises drawn from UK drama school curricula, participants will explore core principles such as structured improvisation, spatial awareness, and agency. The class focuses on the unique demands immersive work places on the actor, including adaptability, consent, and moment-to-moment decision-making. Sign up here!

Feb. 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m.
March 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Proctor Hill Theatre, Tennessee Williams Center

The Moors is a contemporary Gothic comedy that depicts the absurd, harsh, and passionate lives of five women and their dog on the English moors in the Victorian(ish) era. Cleverly combining classic tropes from the Brontës, Poe, du Maurier, and more, the play thoughtfully explores the lasting effects of isolation and violence with reckless imagination. Free tickets here.

Feb. 26, 7 p.m.
All Saints' Chapel

Dr. Geoffrey Harris Ward, university organist and choirmaster, will play a one-hour organ recital on the 67-rank Casavant organ. The program features works by composers from around the world. All are welcome.

Feb. 24, 5 p.m.
Convocation Hall

In the history of reading, silent reading was a late development, but its consequences were profound. Not only did reading become increasingly isolated and personalized, but it fostered a new sense of interiority and intimacy. Beginning in the late 18th century, children were taught to read by interior vocalization, the sound of words shifting to the eye and mind rather than the mouth and ear. As silent reading became the norm, it fostered the conception that the written word granted greater immediacy to our thoughts and feelings and those of others. Using examples from novels and poetry of the early 19th century, this lecture tracks how writers themselves absorbed this change and used their work to both amplify and question it.

Feb. 24, 12:15 p.m.
Main Quad

Professor Raymond Gotko will play a carillon concert of Ukranian Folk songs and the Ukranian National Anthem.

Feb. 23, 3:30 p.m.
Torian Room, duPont Library

Jack Gray will be joined by Sewanee Mathematics Professor and sports analyst Doug Drinen. They will share insights into the exciting field, share their own journeys combining a love of mathematics, statistics, and sports into an exciting career and answer audience questions.The presentation is free and open to the public. The annual Ebey Lecture is made possible by the generosity of Professor Emeritus Sherwood Ebey. This year the lecture is co-sponsored by the Babson Center for Global Commerce.

Feb. 23, 1 p.m.
134 Woods Labs

While at Sewanee, Jack earned the title of NCAA All-American on the men’s tennis team and the Southern Athletic Association named him Man of the Year. After graduating with a mathematics major at Sewanee, Jack studied applied data analytics at Indiana University. His passion for sports analytics led him to a position with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. He has recently transitioned to an emergency medicine data analyst position at the Cleveland Clinic.

Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
Guerry Auditorium

This recital brings together music by Jacques-Martin Hotteterre, Michel Blavet, Jiří Čart, Johann Gottfried Müthel, and Georg Philipp Telemann, where diverse European styles meet and intertwine.

Feb. 22, 4 p.m.
All Saints' Chapel

The University Choir welcomes the choir of St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville, for a joint choral evensong. Hear a choir of more than 100 voices in All Saints' Chapel. The service celebrant is the Rev. Leigh C. Preston with music led by St. George's Dr. Woosug Kang, director of music, and Gerry Senechal, organist and Sewanee alumnus, Sewanee's Dr. Geoffrey Ward, University organist and choirmaster, and Stephanie Yoder, assistant University organist. All are welcome.

Feb. 20, 1 p.m.
Main Lobby, duPont Library 

The opening will feature Kate Coffelt, the manager of the Hamilton County Community Bail Fund at CALEB (Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality, and Benevolence). Coffelt is a born-and-raised Chattanoogan. As a queer teenager, her interest in social justice came naturally; she was experienced in canvassing and phone banking by 14. For many years, she practiced her convictions through theater as a stage manager, believing in the power of art as an agent of change. After deciding she wanted to move into a career that would yield more direct, tangible results, she designed her own degree at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, combining social work, public service, and nonprofit management. 

Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m. 
Guerry Auditorium

The Sewanee Symphony Orchestra, with Music Director and Conductor Mario Alejandro Torres, presents Ritual, Revolution, and Rhythm, featuring Douglas Bakenhus on the bassoon. Free admission

Feb. 19, 4:30 p.m. 
Torian Room, duPont Library

The Babson Center for Global Commerce welcomes Chris Elwell, C‘95, partner and managing director at Timberland Investment Resources (TIR), LLC. Please join us for a discussion on “Forests as Natural Climate Solutions: Tensions in the Paradigm.” This event is presented in collaboration with the Department of Earth and Environmental Systems.

Feb. 18, 6 p.m.
Biehl Commons

The holy month of Ramadan is observed by Muslims all over the world, including here at Sewanee.  Ramadan is 30 days long, and during this time Muslims abstain from food or drink - even water - from sunrise until sunset.  To celebrate and end the first fasting day together, there will be an Iftar dinner at Biehl Commons. All are welcome to enjoy food and community!

Feb. 17, 4:30 p.m. 
Social Lodge

Chris Fischer is deputy general counsel at I Squared Capital and has over 20 years of experience providing legal assistance in the financial services industry. Chris holds an MA in international affairs and a JD from American University. 

Feb. 17, 5:15 p.m. 
Convocation Hall

Dinner and Dialogue brings together students, seminarians, and colleagues for a meal and conversation about what we hold dear. RSVP with a guest, someone who holds a perspective different from your own, to enrich the conversation. RSVP by Feb. 16.

Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m. 
University Archives

Since the university’s inception in the late 1850s, objects from its earliest days have made their way into our archives, including founding documents, photographs, personal belongings, and letters penned by our very first students. These artifacts tell one part of our founding story. Come see what has been preserved and ask yourself: Whose stories do they tell? Whose stories are missing? And what do we choose to remember?

Feb. 16, 7 p.m. 
Convocation Hall 

In 1957 the University of the South opened a new swimming pool at the bend of Oak Street in the heart of Sewanee’s African American neighborhood to reinforce racial segregation in our community: separate swimming facilities for white and Black Sewanee residents. Open for only a few years, it became, as locals called it, the “Swim Pool,” a cherished attraction for Black people in Sewanee and surrounding communities. Palmer's presentation will help us understand the complicated historical context of the segregated neighborhood pool and its short but unforgotten career in Sewanee at the height of America’s Civil Rights Movement. This event is free and open to everyone. It will be streamed here.

Feb. 12, 5 p.m. 
Convocation Hall

New York-based artist Kate Teale will present Falls the Shadow. Representing doorways, tunnels, and windows, Teale manipulates architectural space, making walls disappear. She distills meaning in the representation and experience of thresholds, points of transition between shelter and destruction, between confinement and escape. Doorways “make visual the transition from darkness into light—or the reverse.” A doorway divides two worlds, and requires a choice.

Feb. 4, 3:30 p.m. 
Samuel Lloyd Forum, Hamilton Hall

Kwok Pui Lan, of Episcopal Divinity School, will deliver The Rev. Melissa L. Kean, T'19, Memorial Lecture. Her lecture analyzes the changing demographics and landscape of Anglicanism in a postcolonial world and discusses women’s leadership in mission, churches, theological education, and movements to confront gender-based violence. 

Feb. 3, 6 p.m.
Convocation Hall

The Friends of the Library and the Department of English invite you to attend an event featuring Robin R. Bates, professor emeritus of English from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Bates will discuss the importance of card playing in Jane Austen’s novels and will instruct attendees on how to play Speculation, one of the card games played in Mansfield Park. High tea will be served during the card game and Jane Austen-themed prizes will be awarded to the winners. Attendees who would rather watch than play can do so. We request that you RSVP via email to pcowan@sewanee.edu for the event by Friday, Jan. 30, to help us determine the number of card tables needed.

Jan. 31, 4:30 p.m. 
Sam Lloyd Forum, Hamilton Hall

A recital with tenor William Ferguson and pianist Steven Philcox featuring Schubert's final romantic masterpiece. Sponsored by the Music Department, Voice Studio, and the Caldwell Fund for Viennese Classical Music.

Jan. 29, 7 p.m.
Convocation Hall

Join us for a public lecture with Dr. Tim Shaffer exploring how higher education can cultivate civil discourse and strengthen democratic life amidst polarization, offering both scholarly insights and practical tools for navigating tensions and staying in conversation.

Jan. 21, Noon
Naylor Auditorium, Gailor Hall

This panel will feature political scientists across the various subfields in political science, including American politics, international relations, public policy, and comparative politics, as well as race and ethnicity in American politics. Panelists will engage in a scholarly conversation that unpacks the dimensions, contours, and challenges of democratic governance in the current political moment. They will examine the state of democracy today, the threats facing democratic systems, and the ways democratic governance has contributed to more equitable outcomes in societies, as well as the limits of democracy. The entire campus community is invited to join this important conversation. Food and refreshments will be served.

Jan. 19, 9 - 11 a.m.; 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.;  1 - 3 p.m.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace build shop in Monteagle, Biehl Commons, and Blue Monarch

Volunteers will take part in one of three different project options. We will again work in partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for children in our community who otherwise would not have a bed to sleep in. All of the beds we build together will stay in our local community. We are excited to offer card-making and blanket-making service projects at Biehl Commons for the third year for those who prefer not to build beds. And this year, we are thrilled to welcome one of our longstanding community partners, Blue Monarch, as a volunteer site. Volunteers can choose to register for bed building, blanket/card making, and/or working on a project at Blue Monarch. Deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 16. Register Here

Jan. 18, 7 p.m. 
Studio Theatre at the Tennessee Williams Center

A play that changes with each performance, based on the roll of the dice: The Castle of Eternal Sunset follows two teenage boys as they play their final session of Dungeons & Dragons on an autumn day in 2004. As the teenagers roll to see what happens next, their different possible futures slowly unfold, both in and outside the game. Free admission, no reservations required.

Jan. 16, 4:30 p.m. 
All Saints' Chapel

The University’s Easter Semester Convocation will include the induction of new members into the Order of the Gown. Dr. Jennifer J. Cooley will be installed as the dean of the College. The teaching and scholarship of the faculty will also be recognized and honored with a convocation address delivered by Professor and Chair of the Politics Department Mila Dragojević. More information here. A reception honoring Dr. Cooley and Dr. Dragojević will follow the service at Clement Chen Hall. RSVP here.