College Welcomes Inaugural TRHT Scholars Cohort

September 24, 2024

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.

A collaborative effort between the Office of the Dean of the College and the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the cluster hiring of the TRHT Scholars seeks to advance key University initiatives, including the recruitment and retention of faculty from diverse backgrounds and concurrent recruitment and retention of diverse students.

As a cohort, the scholars will receive mentorship and support for their individual scholarship while also working collectively to engage with student groups and the broader Sewanee community through campus talks, panels, and the development of new courses. Across their various disciplines and in service of the TRHT Center’s mission, the scholars will engage in experiential, high-impact teaching and learning focused on social justice and racial healing. In addition to institutional investment, the two-year pilot program is also supported by grants from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS).

Comprising diverse backgrounds and experiences, the new faculty cohort brings significant experience and fresh perspectives to the classroom and across campus. “This infusion of talent underscores the University’s commitment to fostering scholarship, innovation, and inclusive excellence across disciplines,” says Andrea Hatcher, professor of political science and special assistant to the dean for faculty retention and policy.

The TRHT Scholars are:

Cecilia Cerja, Assistant Professor of Politics and Women’s and Gender Studies

B.A., James Madison University; M.A., University of Northern Iowa; Ph.D., University of Georgia
Cerja’s primary research agenda focuses on examining the representations of Black women in the public sphere, political sphere, and media. She has also published research on feminist pedagogy and alt-right diet culture. Cerja specializes in teaching courses about Black women's politics, social movements, public address, and popular culture. She recently worked as spring book distribution coordinator for the nonprofit organization Books for Keeps, which focuses on improving literacy in Athens, Georgia.

Britt Threatt, Assistant Professor of English

B.A., Rhodes College; M.A., Brown University; Ph.D., Brown University
As a researcher, Threatt takes an interdisciplinary approach with intersections in literary theory, performance studies, and women's and gender studies. These fields inform her current project of analyzing slave legacies in Black women’s speculative fiction. In the classroom, Threatt prides herself on being a collaborative instructor who helps her students achieve their personal learning goals while equipping them with necessary fundamentals of composition and critical thinking. Her commitment extends beyond the classroom through her podcast College Writing, Actually, on which she discusses practical writing tips and multilingualism.

Jordan Vera, Assistant Professor of Theatre

B.F.A., Florida International University; M.F.A., University of Tennessee
Vera is a Cuban American regional lighting designer. He has worked for companies such as the Miami Summer Opera Festival, the Clarence Brown Theatre, Oak Ridge Playhouse, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Miami New Drama, Flying Anvil Theatre, and North Carolina Stage Company. At the core of all of Vera’s performance work, he believes in the power of the dramatic arts being used to create positive change in our communities. Vera actively seeks to collaborate with and amplify the voices of fellow BIPOC artists of all intersectionalities in his performance design.