Wendy Singer, the Roy T. Wortman Distinguished Professor of History, will serve as associate provost during the 2022–23 academic year, beginning July 1. “Wendy served on the College’s most recent strategic planning committee and will bring a valuable perspective as we implement curricular initiatives identified in the plan, especially those with a global reach,” said Provost Jeff Bowman. “I am excited that she will be joining the provost’s office and am confident that she will be an excellent partner and leader for our faculty.”
“Wendy has boundless energy and commitment to Kenyon, and when combined with her involvement in faculty governance and institutional projects, she will be a valuable addition to the provost’s office,” added Associate Provost Sheryl Hemkin. “I look forward to working with her.”
Since joining Kenyon’s faculty in 1988, Singer has taken on a number of faculty leadership positions, most recently chairing the Curricular Policy Committee and, previously, the Tenure and Promotion Committee. She currently serves as director of Asian and Middle East Studies and Islamic Civilization and Cultures, both programs she helped establish, and she is a past chair of the history department. In the 2020–21 academic year, she was recognized with the Distinguished Faculty Service Award, an award given by the Faculty Executive Committee to a member of the faculty whose citizenship has been especially remarkable in the current academic year.
One of Singer’s main interests has been to strengthen Kenyon’s international commitments, working with the Center for Global Engagement and collaborating with partners abroad. She also directed the International Studies program for a number of years. Seeing the critical role of education, inside and outside the classroom, she has been a dedicated advisor to students and alumni, building connections across continents and generations. In recognition of this work, Singer received the Faculty Advising Award in 2019.
“I am looking forward to the new challenges of this position and, particularly, to having an opportunity to build on our global achievements and to advance the work of the strategic plan,” Singer said.
Singer is a historian of South Asia whose research focuses on 20th-century India. She is an expert in Indian elections and has written, most recently, on the role of women in legislatures. Her earlier publications have focused on the history of anti-colonial movements in the development of the post-independence state. Her current work-in-progress is a history of political inclusion — particularly of socially disadvantaged communities — within India’s democratic institutions. Singer received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and doctorate from the University of Virginia.