Matthew Cowin, Staff Writer
Dr. Jane Tully is a current professor of Latin and Classical Archaeology at her alma mater, Sewanee: University of the South. In college, Tully studied Anthropology before earning a Master’s in Archaeology at Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Classics at The University of Texas at Austin. During these years, she completed fulfilling research and studied abroad in Italy and Greece; she then co-taught at Dartmouth College and UT Chattanooga following her graduate education. In her interview with The Sewanee Purple, Tully re-visited her various experiences and her rewarding return to Sewanee as a full-time professor.
Tully’s interest in Latin began as a younger student before entering college.
“I took Latin in Middle School for the first time. I knew I enjoyed Classics in High School and was interested in Latin and the Ancient World,” Tully said.
Originally from Texas (where her mother taught music at Baylor University), Tully pursued higher education and began her global odyssey as she chose to attend Sewanee: University of the South in Tennessee.
As an Anthropology major at Sewanee, Tully explored human development and took Classics as a language.
“There were a few Latin courses and no major courses in Ancient Archaeology. Through Sewanee and Classics I learned more about Archaeology. My knowledge was most enhanced through hands-on experience of exploring rockshelters on the domain with Sewanee Archaeologist Sarah Sherwood,” Tully said.
Tully notes the European study abroad experience as a rewarding factor for her Anthropology major.
“It was an eye-opening joint study abroad with Rhodes College. We started at Oxford University on the medieval and renaissance track. For the Ancient World, we studied in Greece, Turkey, and Italy – the city of Athens, Greece was particularly beautiful,” Tully said.
These outside the classroom experiences adding to her thorough education were pivotal in Tully’s decision to attend graduate school by her Senior Year.
After graduation, Tully furthered her Archaeology education through her Master’s at Cornell University.
“My classes were in biological and physical archaeology. In addition to scientific components, we learned a lot about the past and what makes us human,” Tully said. “My written and material evidence was successful largely from my taking of difficult comp exams at Sewanee. My Classics courses were excellent and I also took Ancient Literature and Philosophy. I was also introduced to education as a research intern and assistant teaching instructor.”
In addition to UT Austin, Tully co-taught courses at Dartmouth College and served as adjunct professor at University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
“While working at both colleges, I was still completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the classical library at Harvard. It was great to have teaching experience before returning to Sewanee as a full time professor,” Tully said. “It’s wonderful to have smaller courses here and the students are great. Sewanee felt like a real homecoming for me.”
Most importantly, Tully takes pride in her sense of place on the domain and around the world.
“Sewanee was an important place for me as a college student because I was challenged by my Anthropology courses. Athens, Greece was another important place – the new city and language were difficult early on but it is now my favorite place in the world.”
In every place, Tully has achieved the fullest experience of academia and people in preparation for her wonderful return to her alma mater.