Vision

A university where people come together across lines of difference to learn, grow, and create a community rooted in mutual respect, justice, and shared responsibility.

Mission

Our mission is to foster meaningful engagement and connections that strengthen community bonds within the university and beyond. Through several core initiatives, including the Sewanee Posse Program, Roberson Project for Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation, Indigenous Engagement Initiative, and the Truth, Community Healing, and Transformation Center, we create opportunities for co-curricular learning, relationship-rich connections, leadership development, and community healing and reconciliation.

Shared Purpose & Objectives

We see a future where histories are acknowledged with honesty, where leadership is cultivated with intention, and where healing and reconciliation open new pathways toward a stronger, more united community. This vision calls us to nurture a campus culture where every individual feels valued, where legacies are examined with courage and curiosity, and where collective action shapes a future worthy of our highest aspirations. By pursuing these commitments, we aim to build a university community that not only reflects its highest ideals but also models for the world what it means to face history with honesty, to embrace difference with curiosity, and to move forward together with courage and optimism.

  1. Advance Historical Awareness, Healing, and Reconciliation
    Through the Roberson Project for Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation and the Truth, Community Healing, and Transformation, the Office will continue to uncover and share the university’s complex histories. By confronting the legacy of slavery, systemic injustice, and their enduring effects, we aim to foster awareness and accountability. This work will not be limited to historical research but will be paired with public education, dialogue, and institutional reflection. In doing so, the Roberson Project and the TCHT Center will ensure that the past becomes a source of learning, growth, and reconciliation.

  2. Foster Conversations and Collaborations with Local Indigenous Communities
    We are committed to creating spaces for respectful, transformative conversations. The Indigenous Engagement Initiative anchors our efforts to build ongoing, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities impacted by the Trail of Tears. Through partnership, the IEI will co-host Talking Circles and Indigenous Peoples Day, bringing diverse perspectives together to foster understanding. By nurturing these connections, we also aim to strengthen empathy, listening, and collective action.

  3. Promote Collective Healing and Well-being
    CREATE Conversations and Community Healing Circles will provide avenues for truth-telling, restorative practices, and healing. By acknowledging harm, promoting dialogue, and supporting community resilience, these initiatives will foster trust and help create a more just and compassionate University environment. This goal extends beyond addressing past injustices; it speaks to cultivating practices of care, repair, and mutual support that strengthen our shared humanity.

  4. Strengthen Student Engagement and Leadership
    The Office of Community Building and Connections (which includes 213A Social Justice Initiative and Willie Six Events) will continue to offer educational, cultural, and social programming that fosters a sense of belonging and provides opportunities for growth and development, including student cross-cultural understanding, co-curricular engagement, and relationship building. Additionally, the Sewanee Posse Program will serve as a cornerstone of leadership development, engaging students in current challenges facing our world and helping them develop social responsibility, empathy, and community-building skills.

    Staff

    Administrative Staff

    Dr. Sibby Anderson-Thompkins, VP for Community Building and Connections/Posse Director/Campus Liaison
    Dr. Rachel Fredericks, Director of Community Building and Connections/Posse Faculty Mentor Cohort 18
    Ms. Tarneka Ezell (Ezell), Assistant Director of Community Building and Connections
    Ms. Tammy Simmons, Executive Assistant to the VP for Community Building and Connections/Posse Program Coordinator

    Faculty-led Initiatives

    Dr. Tiffany Momon, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Truth, Community Healing, and Transformation Center
    Dr. Woody Register, Francis S. Houghteling Professor of History and Director of the Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation
    Dr. Al Bardi, Associate Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Indigenous Engagement Initiative