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Skip to Main Content The University of the South Visit Apply Contact Give Sewanee News Home Sewanee News In This Section In This Section Leadership changes coming to Student Life Leadership changes will occur at the end of the year in the Division of Student Life. Dean of Students W. Marichal Gentry, C’86, will leave his position and Nicole Noffsinger-Frazier, C’97, will move into her new role of associate provost for student life and dean of students. Read more University to begin search for a Chief Diversity Officer The University is beginning the process of hiring a chief diversity officer who will oversee a new Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Read more New Advisory Committee on Alcohol and Narcotics to review campus policy With support from the Board of Regents, the University is convening a committee—composed of faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents, trustees, and regents—to examine the use of alcohol and narcotics at Sewanee. Learn more Special event honors Advent semester award recipients A special small event (masked and outdoors) was held in Guerry Garth to recognize the students who received Advent semester awards and prizes. The awards are usually announced during Family Weekend; this year’s event was livestreamed for parents and for those students who received their awards remotely. Read more Sewanee will establish its own on-campus COVID-19 testing lab The University is establishing its own testing lab to provide greater capacity and faster processing for COVID-19 tests next semester. Professor Alyssa Summers will be the technical director of the Sewanee Molecular Diagnostics Lab, while both she and Professor Clint Smith will work as molecular lab specialists to process samples. Read more Eight members of the Class of 2021 elected to Phi Beta Kappa An initiation ceremony was held on Thursday, Oct. 15, for members of the Class of 2021 who have been elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Read more University welcomes new faculty members The University of the South welcomes six new tenure-track faculty members this fall, along with three alumni who have returned this year to teach. Read more Ceremony honors Rev. Joseph Green Jr., T’65, H’10 A ceremony at the School of Theology honored the Rev. Joseph Green Jr., T’65, H’10, one of the first two African American students to earn a degree from the University of the South. Read more UNIVERSITY TAKES "NEXT STEP" TOWARD EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY Vice-Chancellor Brigety announced that the University will launch a number of initiatives in response to a Board of Regents statement categorically rejecting the University’s past veneration of the Confederacy. Read more, including the Board statement and VC's letter The Launching of a New Year The annual Launching of the New Year took place as a livestreamed event on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The event each year allows the vice-chancellor and student leaders to share news and aspirations for the coming year. Read more and watch the video Professor Daniel Carter receives community service award Daniel Carter, assistant professor of environmental studies, has been awarded a 2020 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award, presented by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to recognize exemplary public service. He is the fifth Sewanee recipient in the last nine years. Read more Students return to the Mountain in a “new now” The University is happy to welcome students to Sewanee for the fall semester, and our students are excited to be here. This is true even when, as the vice-chancellor says, this semester will not look like any other semester in the history of the University. Read more University Moves Forward with New Cell Tower The University has decided to locate a new cell tower in the rear tailgate area of Sewanee’s Harris Stadium (football stadium). The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgency to address the inadequacy of cell service on campus. Learn more University faculty and staff members tested for COVID-19 All Sewanee faculty and staff members were tested for COVID-19 in late July, prior to students returning to campus. Learn more VICE-CHANCELLOR RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FROM FORMER U.S. PRESIDENTS Vice-Chancellor Brigety has received letters of congratulation from all four living former presidents. The notes acknowledge Brigety’s personal history of public service. Read more Support for International Students On Wednesday, July 8, Vice-Chancellor Brigety shared with Sewanee students, faculty, and staff a statement of support for international students. Read more Vice-Chancellor Brigety was the first guest on "Face to Face: Conversations from Kanuga” Last Sunday, Vice-Chancellor Reuben Brigety was part of Kanuga's new online dialogue series "Face to Face: Conversations from Kanuga." Brigety engaged in conversation with Kanuga President the Rev. Michael Sullivan, T'00, a former Regent of the University. The hour-long conversation covered current topics including racism and injustice now and throughout American history. Read more Vice-Chancellor Brigety begins his tenure On Wednesday, June 17, Vice-Chancellor Reuben Brigety marked his first day in that office with a sunrise Morning Prayer service followed by remarks to the Sewanee family and community. Read more McCardell celebrated, announces new gift during "Leave-Taking" A brief gathering was held June 16 in All Saints’ Chapel to observe the “Leave-Taking” of Sewanee’s 16th vice-chancellor, following a morning of recognitions by the Board of Regents. Read more UNIVERSITY STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST ALUMNUS The University of the South is aware of the recent arrest of an alumnus who has been charged under federal law. Learn more Adjustments made to fall academic calendar The Sewanee Fall Operational Group (Sewanee FOG) has been planning for how the University will operate in the fall. Initial decisions now have been made regarding fall semester start dates and the academic calendar. Learn more A Leave-Taking and Beginning A brief gathering June 16 in All Saints’ Chapel will observe the “Leave-Taking” of John McCardell, Sewanee's 16th vice-chancellor. Reuben Brigety, who was elected the 17th vice-chancellor in February, will begin his first day in office with a sunrise Morning Prayer service followed by remarks to the Sewanee community on June 17. Learn more UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS REGARDING NATIONAL PROTESTS Since June 1, in the wake of national protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody, Vice-Chancellor John McCardell, Dean of Students Marichal Gentry, the Deans of the School of Theology, and the Office of the Dean of the College have sent messages to students, faculty, and staff. Student organizations made powerful statements of support for racial justice. Read more Message from Vice-Chancellor McCardell on returning to campus A sense of community is at the heart of a Sewanee education, and while in some ways this spring’s forced separation has drawn us closer, our fervent hope is that we will reunite on campus soon. Bringing students safely back to campus is in the best interest of our entire community. As we plan a return to in-person instruction in the fall, we are also necessarily paying attention to making sure our campus and local community remain healthy and safe. Read McCardell's letter Spring sustainability highlights Amy Turner, director of Sewanee’s Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, gives an update about some of the program’s spring activities, including blazing trails and gleaning greens. Read more Sewanee perspectives during the pandemic, part two As the COVID-19 crisis stretches on, Sewanee Features has gathered more stories and reflections that offer some unique perspectives from Sewanee students, faculty, and alumni. Read more Sewanee faculty members in the news Sewanee faculty members have been in the news sharing research, imparting expertise, and creating art. Four professors won this year’s College fa...