Campus Life

April 27, 2023

Dear University Community,

I write to inform you of several upcoming changes in the University administration. These changes are effective July 1.

• After assisting with Vice-Chancellor-Elect Pearigen’s transition and onboarding during the upcoming fall semester, I will return to the faculty and will be taking a sabbatical for the calendar year 2024.
• Scott Wilson will continue in his role as acting provost.
• Terry Papillon will step down as dean of the College to concentrate on his teaching and scholarship in Classics and Rhetoric.
• Associate Dean Betsy Sandlin has been named interim dean of the College. Dr. Sandlin will begin a search to fill her current role managing the inclusive development of the College faculty and curriculum soon.

We will celebrate the extraordinary contributions Dr. Papillon made during his tenure as dean and wish him well in his new endeavors on Monday, May 8, at 4:30 p.m. in Guerry Garth (rain location: Convocation Hall).

Please join me in thanking Dean Papillon, Prof. Sandlin, and Acting Provost Wilson for their ongoing dedication to Sewanee’s mission.

The College has advanced significantly during Dean Papillon's nine years as dean. Under his leadership, the scope of the associate dean’s responsibility was broadened to include diversity, equity, and inclusion for the college faculty. Dr. Papillon helped to create the Office of Global Citizenship and the Center for Speaking and Listening and oversaw the development of recruitment and retention programs for faculty of color, and programs for new faculty and new department and program chairs. He worked with faculty to develop a post-tenure review process and oversaw the revival of the Center for Teaching. More than a third of the current tenured or tenure-track faculty were hired during Dean Papillon’s time. Significant additions to the college curriculum were made during Dr. Papillon’s tenure as dean including new majors in Women’s & Gender Studies, Creative Writing, Finance, and Neuroscience; new minors in Dance, Italian, Rhetoric, Southern Appalachian Studies and the newest minor in Chinese Studies as well as the certificate in Civic & Global Studies. His time as dean also saw increased support for research and faculty development, and clarification of the tenure guidelines.

After rebuilding the Center for Teaching as co-director, Dr. Sandlin took on the role of associate dean just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. She was crucial in coordination of training faculty to teach online and creating physical spaces for classrooms that would be safe for all. In all this, Dr. Sandlin led with her calm yet enthusiastic “we can do this” attitude. As associate dean, she also created new inclusion programs for hiring (including equity advisors), a new-faculty orientation and development program, new chair training, and a handbook for chairs. She also created new programs to promote faculty work like Faculty Flash Presentation Showcases and worked with the Marketing and Communications office to increase stories on faculty research and creative scholarship. Prof. Sandlin is also a significant contributor to the Associated Colleges of the South, contributing to DEI initiatives and as director of the ACS Summer Teaching & Learning Workshop for five years and as a facilitator for over a decade. Perhaps most close to her heart is the years she has spent working with the Posse students and Posse program, which has created a vital community for our students.

As for me, it has been my honor to serve the University in the various administrative roles I have held for the past 11 and a half years, culminating in my current role. I am extremely grateful for these opportunities, but look forward to reconnecting with my scholarship.