Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 5, 2007|Volume 36, Number 5

Emilie M. Townes

Emilie Townes is named associate
dean at the Divinity School

Emilie M. Townes, the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology, has been named associate dean of academic affairs at Yale Divinity School (YDS).

Townes, who will assume the post in July 2008, succeeds Robert Wilson, the Hoober Professor of Religious Studies and professor of Old Testament.

YDS Dean Harold Attridge noted that since joining the Divinity School faculty two years ago, Townes has “assumed a role of leadership” not only among colleagues at YDS but also within the broader University. She is director of undergraduate studies and professor of African-American studies; professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies; and professor of religious studies. She is one of the faculty leaders of the Initiative on Religion and Politics at Yale, based at the Divinity School.

“I very much look forward to working with Professor Townes in the years ahead as we work to keep YDS at the forefront of theological education,” said Attridge.

For her part, Townes said, “Along with the normal areas that the academic dean addresses, there are several key areas I anticipate addressing during my tenure as academic dean.”

Among those, she said, are development of a strong mentoring program for pre-tenure faculty; supporting the new urban ministries initiative; and helping to continue to promote diversity in the areas of campus ethos, curriculum, admissions and new faculty hires.

Townes’ teaching and general research interests focus on Christian ethics, womanist ethics, critical social theory, cultural theory and studies, and postmodernism. Her publications include “Breaking the Fine Rain of Death: African-American Health and a Womanist Ethic of Care,” “Womanist Justice, Womanist Hope” and “In a Blaze of Glory: Womanist Spirituality as Social Witness.”

An ordained American Baptist clergywoman, she earned an A.B. at the University of Chicago; an A.M. and D.Min. at the University of Chicago Divinity School; and a Ph.D. at Northwestern University. She is currently president-elect of the American Academy of Religion and is scheduled to become president in 2008.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Yale team achieves major advances in quantum computers

Yale poll reveals growing concern about global warming

‘Incredible India@60’: Yale hosts panels on nation’s future . . .

Parents' Weekend

Special language tours offered during Parents’ Weekend

Yale endowment earns 28% return in 2006-2007

Study sheds new light on genetic differences in humans

Emilie Townes is named to associate dean at the Divinity School

Faculty members win fellowships for use of technology in curricula

Conference to honor legacy of Israeli poet

Festival invites public to enjoy area artists’ creative offerings

Evolution of ‘the city beautiful’ is focus of new exhibition

Noted theologians to give public talks during Convocation

Yale singers will bring Beinecke manuscript to musical life . . .

Winners of Graduate School’s Wilbur Cross Medals to present talks

Global experts gather to discuss ways to curb poverty . . .

‘Summer Heat’

Yale Press acquires the renowned Anchor Bible Series from Doubleday

Jane Savage named director of best practices

New digital mammography van hits the streets to provide screenings

Manuscripts and Archives hosts an introduction to its resources, services

Yale Books in Brief

Campus Notes