By Walt Evans
Staff Writer
As the latter half of Sewanee’s school year begins, The Sewanee Purple would like to highlight the beloved professors and administrators that will be retiring after this semester. Be sure to give these educators a hug or a handshake if you see them around:
History professor Charles R. Perry, Ph.D., has been teaching Sewanee students for forty-two years. Perry has specialized in British history during his career on the Mountain, teaching a survey as well as seminars on various periods. Perry has been published by many different organizations, including The Royal Historical Society. He was elected a fellow of the Society in 1990.
George Core has been the editor of The Sewanee Review since 1974. As leader of this nationally recognized institution of the university, Core has been praised for diversifying the themes covered in the Review. Additionally, he’s been published in The Southern Review, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and The Murfreesboro Post. He has also published several books.
This will be the final semester for Professor Fred Croom, Ph.D., a living legend of the Mathematics department. Along with teaching calculus to multiple generations of Sewanee students, he has published two textbooks on general topology and algebraic topology respectively.
Along with teaching music for the university, Robbe Delcamp, D.Mus., plays organ and directs choir for All Saints’ Chapel. Delcamp has received degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Northwestern and has toured his organ talents extensively through the U.S. and Europe.
Associate Dean of the College and Director of Study Abroad, Larry H. Jones, Ph.D., joined the faculty of the Biology department in 1977. He refocused his talents to administration in 1993, but Jones still teaches part-time in the Biology department each semester.
David Landon, Ph.D., a long-time professor of Theatre Arts on the Domain, is also retiring after this semester. Landon holds degrees from both Harvard and Vanderbilt and has acted for the Heritage Repertory Company and the Alabama Shakespeare Company. He has also appeared in roles on film and television.
Ben Harrison (C’17), an Economics major who took Landon’s “Shakespeare: School to Stage” class in 2015, says that the class was a highlight of his Sewanee career thus far, and that the professor “really takes you out of your comfort zone.”
Professor John V. Reishman, Ph.D., of the English department may be one of the most popular professors on the Mountain. Mr. Reishman, as he prefers to be called, joined the faculty in 1969, and currently teaches Representative Masterpieces as well as two classes on 19th century British literature. Eric Roddy (C’16), one of Reishman’s advisees, had this to say about the man he claims as his favorite professor at Sewanee: “Dr. Reishman may be officially retiring, but the life lessons he gave to his students will ensure that his legacy remains a fixture in the academic culture of this university for years to come. This school is beyond lucky for his years of service.”
Susan Rupert, the director of Choir and Voice Practicum here at Sewanee and teaches the popular Broadway Singing course. She holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Northwestern, and is a renowned concert soprano vocalist across the U.S.
Finally, Professor of Religion and Marshal of the University Faculties, Jerry Smith, Ph.D., is teaching his last semester. A professor on the Mountain for 47 years, Smith is beloved not only for his religion courses, but also for the very popular and very limited “Sacred Manhood” course that he created. His daughter, Amber (C’15), graduated last year.