Sewanee News

The Babson Center for Global Commerce welcomes Cameron Tyer, C’93, to campus as Graham Executive-in-Residence. Tyer has 25 years of experience in global business affairs at Coca-Cola followed by several years at Google creating a global business affairs organization. She spent her career building and empowering teams of professionals to negotiate high-stakes sponsorships and deals and to navigate the complexities of marketing, public relations, legal, and finance operations.

All are welcome to join Cameron Tyer to hear insights from her career journey. Her talk, entitled "Global Marketing Partnerships:  Who You Associate with Matters," will take place at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, in the Torian Room in duPont Library.

The University of the South held an Easter Convocation on Friday, Jan. 17, to induct new members into the Order of the Gown and, following a tradition established in 2024, recognize the teaching and scholarship of the faculty by featuring remarks delivered by a University professor. This year, Professor of Biology David Haskell, an award-winning educator and writer, was selected to give the convocation address.

The Medieval Academy of America has announced that Sewanee Teaching Associate Professor of English Stephanie Batkie received the association’s Robert L. Kindrick-CARA Award for Outstanding Service to Medieval Studies. The award recognizes individuals who have developed, promoted, and administered medieval studies programming, curricula, and research.

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe will preach and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Jacob Owensby will preside at both services in All Saints’ Chapel on Sunday, Jan. 26. The services are Rite 1 Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and Rite 2 Holy Eucharist at 11 a.m. A reception following the 11 a.m. Eucharist will be held in Convocation Hall. Additionally, a public panel discussion will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, also in Convocation Hall. The discussion will feature Presiding Bishop Rowe, Chancellor Owensby, and Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen. The entire community is welcome and encouraged to attend.

The University’s Easter Convocation will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17. New members will be inducted into the Order of the Gown, and the teaching and scholarship of the faculty will also be recognized and honored with a convocation address delivered by a member of the University faculty. This year’s remarks will be given by Professor of Biology David Haskell.

The nominations for the 67th Grammy Awards, announced on Nov. 8, include connections with three faculty members in Sewanee’s Music Department: Kerry Ginger, associate professor of voice; Erik Gustafson, instructor of voice; and Sarah Rimkus, visiting assistant professor of music theory and composition.

Sewanee's 65th Festival of Lessons and Carols was celebrated at All Saints' Chapel at three services on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8. In addition to the students, staff, and faculty of the University, the service was open to the broader community in Sewanee and beyond. A video recording of the 7 p.m. service on Dec. 7 is available online.

As she pored over a medieval manuscript last summer, Taylor Tunstall, C’25, found herself faced with something unexpected: a centuries-old mistake embedded in the margins of the text. Though just a single word, it would end up deepening her perspective not only on what it means to engage with ancient works, but also where she fits in with the long line of people who have kept them alive throughout history.

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) has announced that a research team from Sewanee has been selected for the council’s Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR) program. One of just 63 teams chosen from across the country, Sewanee’s delegation is led by Professor and Chair of Biology Elise Kikis, and includes students Laine Prince, C’27; Hannah Talbott, C’25; and Ellen Woodward, C’25.

Kabir Menon spent the summer in the remote environs of Hanson Island, a small island off the coast of British Columbia. There, he braved extreme conditions—including a near-miss with a grizzly bear—to join the OrcaLab research team in their 24/7 quest to observe and learn more about orca whales.

Jillian Thurston, C’26, was looking for new experiences when she chose to pursue an international internship in Seoul, South Korea. But she didn’t expect that those experiences would include posing in front of a camera with bright lights and twenty pairs of eyes on her as she modeled for a global cosmetics brand.

The Babson Center for Global Commerce welcomes Blair Overman, C’07, to campus as an Advent 2024 Bryan Viewpoints Speaker. Overman is the principal and chief operating officer of Andart Global, a boutique consulting firm based in Dubai that focuses on the space, tourism, technology, and sustainability sectors. While on campus, she will meet with students and deliver a presentation in which she will reflect on how her own career, which has spanned multiple industries and continents, illustrates the importance of embracing change and following your passions.

Her presentation, "Sailing the Uncharted Course: Reimagining the Typical Business Career Track," will take place at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in the Torian Room in duPont Library. All are welcome to attend this event co-sponsored by the Department of Politics, the Department of English, and the Office of Civic Engagement.

Jenna Black grew up around football. The daughter of a coach, some of her earliest memories are of the sideline scenes at football games. Nearly two decades on, she’s still spending her time on the sidelines of a football field. Only this time, she’s looking for a way to turn her longtime passion into a career.

Nine members of the Class of 2025 have been elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. The initiation ceremony was held on Thursday, Sept. 29. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is perhaps the most prized honor a college student can receive. Members are elected on the basis of high scholarship, good moral character, and vital interest in the educational progress of the College.

The University of the South held an Opening Convocation on Friday, Sept. 27, to induct new members into the Order of the Gown, announce the recipients of awards and prizes, and install Scott Wilson as University provost. The ceremony featured a convocation address given by Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen, titled “Baffled Minds and Impeded Streams.”

Among the 22 new professors joining the College this semester is Sewanee’s first-ever faculty cohort: the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Scholars. Hired as a cohort, the three new tenure-track professors will be affiliated with the University’s TRHT Center. The cohort includes: Assistant Professor of Politics and Women's and Gender Studies Cecilia Cerja, Assistant Professor of English Britt Threatt, and Assistant Professor of Theatre Jordan Vera.

Like many students, Liam Selvido sought to make the most of his summer by pursuing an internship. Unlike many students, Selvido didn’t stop at just one. By day, he interned at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, working in the clinic’s Clinical Genomics Department. At night, he traveled across town and joined the media pool as a team photographer for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins).

The University of the South will hold the Foundation Day Convocation on Friday, Sept. 27, coinciding with Family Weekend. Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen will give the Convocation address. The ceremony, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. in All Saints' Chapel, will include the installation of Scott Wilson as provost and the induction of new members into the Order of the Gown. The Convocation will be livestreamed.

The Babson Center for Global Commerce welcomes Boo Corrigan, director of athletics at North Carolina State University, as the Advent 2024 Bryan Viewpoints Speaker. Corrigan will share his perspective on leading a major Division I program in the midst of rapid change in the business, including conference realignment, media bidding competitions, player NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), and emerging labor movements among college athletes.

His lecture, “The Business of College Sports: A Changing Landscape,” will take place at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Convocation Hall. All are welcome to attend this event co-sponsored by the Department of Athletics.

Career Readiness + Student Success has named the faculty fellows for advising and mentoring: Associate Professor of Art Jessica Wohl; Associate Professor of Biology Chris Shelley; Associate Professor of Computer Science Ross Sowell; and Associate Professor Economics Katherine Theyson. The new fellows will partner with Career Readiness + Student Success for a three-year term, during which they will develop resources to support faculty advisors in their work with students.

The Sewanee Athletics community gathered at the Sewanee Inn on Sept. 13 to celebrate the induction of five new members into the Sewanee Athletics Hall of Fame. It was an evening filled with recognition, reflection, and a sense of pride for the University's athletic legacy.

At their meeting on Sept. 12, the University’s Board of Regents elected Dr. Renia Dotson, C’88, to serve a two-year term as chair. Currently the director of the Center for Public Health Transformation at the Mississippi State Department of Health, Dotson has extensive experience as a surgeon and as a leader in Mississippi healthcare. Dotson began her term on the Board of Regents in 2018 and was named vice chair in 2023. She succeeds Jim Folds, C’86, who served as chair from 2022 to 2024.

Hosted by Career Readiness + Student Success and the Babson Center for Global Commerce each September, Smith Career Day gives Sewanee students a chance to interact with young alumni to learn more about the fields of banking, consulting, and finance.

The Clery Center has awarded the University of the South its 2024 Campus Safety Impact Award for a program spearheaded by the University’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Clery Center guides institutions of higher education to implement effective campus safety measures, and the Campus Safety Impact Award highlights a program or initiative at an institution of higher education that demonstrates innovation, collaboration, and equity in enhancing safety on campus. The C.P.R. (Compliance, Prevention, and Resources) in Action Initiative was established at Sewanee in 2021 to address sexual violence and improve the overall safety and well-being of students.

Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen and Chancellor Jacob W. Owensby have announced the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Nancee Martin as interim University chaplain. Martin will begin her service on Oct. 1. A graduate of the School of Theology (M.Div. in 2000 and D.Min. in 2008), Martin currently serves on the Alumni Council of the School of Theology and has served on the Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents. Martin succeeds the Rev. Peter Gray, who served as University chaplain from 2020 to 2024.

The Humphreys Entrepreneur-in-Residence program brings outstanding and innovative business leaders and entrepreneurs to the University to provide experiential perspectives to undergraduates. The founder of his eponymous shoe company, Weitzman designed and sold his shoes for more than 50 years. His entrepreneurial spirit and creativity launched his company into over 70 countries with celebrities like Beyoncé, Kate Middleton, and Taylor Swift, wearing his shoes on the red carpet, on volleyball courts, in sold-out arenas, and beyond. While on campus, he will meet with students and deliver a presentation, “Be Courageous: Entrepreneurship Insights with Former Designer & CEO Stuart Weitzman,” at 4:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 9, in Convocation Hall.

The Office of the Dean of the College has announced the appointment of 22 new faculty members for the 2024-25 academic year.

The University of the South is thrilled to announce that the Board of Trustees has formally adopted a new strategic plan—"Elevating Mind, Heart, and Place"—that will guide the University for years to come. In keeping with its mission, the University has developed this plan with a clear focus on students, building on a rich tradition that explores enduring questions of humanity infused with practical engagement that prepares our graduates for lives of integrity, service, and leadership.

The Sewanee Summer Music Festival has announced its new artistic and executive director, Dr. Hillary Herndon. A nationally renowned violist with degrees from both Juilliard and the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, Herndon has been a professor of viola at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) for more than fifteen years and has taught at Eastman and at multiple national festivals.

Sewanee is one of the nation's best colleges for students seeking a great education with excellent career preparation and at a relatively affordable price, according to The Princeton Review.

The education services company named Sewanee as one of its Best Value Colleges for 2024 this June.

Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen announced the appointment of the Rev. Leigh Preston as interim associate university chaplain in an email to campus this morning. Preston will begin her service on July 1, 2024. "Among a talented field of candidates, including clergy from three different countries and representing 12 Episcopal dioceses, Leigh stood out as a leader who couples pastoral warmth and care with a deep investment in the lives and experiences of students at both the College and the School of Theology," Pearigen wrote. "She is a respected leader in Latinx ministry across the Episcopal Church, and an ally and advocate in helping the church that she serves share the Gospel of Christ and be ever more inclusive and just. Having been shaped by the Episcopal campus ministry at the University of Georgia and Peterkin summer camp in the mountains of West Virginia, she brings enthusiasm for the many ways that an adaptive church can support the spiritual lives of young adults."