{"id":53972,"date":"2025-04-08T13:30:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T17:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/provost\/?p=53972"},"modified":"2025-04-08T13:34:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T17:34:53","slug":"denise-yarbrough-to-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/provost\/denise-yarbrough-to-retire\/","title":{"rendered":"Denise Yarbrough to Retire"},"content":{"rendered":"
A Message from John Blackshear<\/h5>\n

\"Reverend<\/p>\n

I am writing to inform you that the Reverend Dr. Denise Yarbrough has announced her retirement as director of religious and spiritual life at the end of the academic year. Throughout her time at the University of Rochester Interfaith Chapel<\/a>, Rev. Dr. Yarbrough has been a dedicated leader, mentor, and compassionate advocate for interfaith understanding and collaboration within the University community.<\/p>\n

An ordained Episcopal priest, Rev. Dr. Yarbrough also serves as an associate professor in the Department of Religion and Classics<\/a>. She is well known for fostering inclusive dialogues, enhancing support for students of all faith traditions, and encouraging understanding between cultural and religious groups. Her commitment to promoting religious literacy and bringing University community members together in times of celebration and grief will have a lasting impact on our students, faculty, and staff.<\/p>\n

During her tenure, Rev. Dr. Yarbrough advanced the Interfaith Chapel as a \u201chouse of prayer for all people,\u201d leading the initiative to remove fixed pews from the Sanctuary to foster a genuinely interfaith worship space. She also supported the growth of our Muslim and Hindu communities by securing chaplains to provide leadership and assistance to students of those traditions while maintaining support for Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Pagan, and other faith communities.<\/p>\n

In partnership with Interfaith America, she secured grants that enabled significant programs at the intersection of science and religion, including a Public Health and Religion course. Another Interfaith America grant piloted the Bridging the Gap: Dialogue Across Difference course. It is now in its third year of equipping students to function competently in contexts where they must work and live with people with whom they disagree.<\/p>\n

I am also pleased to announce that Dr. Sean Watson, who currently serves as the associate director in Residential Life and Housing Services and the university\u2019s Pagan Chaplain, has agreed to serve as interim director of the Interfaith Chapel beginning July 1. Dr. Watson earned his bachelor’s degree in French and English from SUNY Plattsburgh, a master of science degree in Educational Administration from the University of Rochester\u2019s Warner School of Education, another master\u2019s degree in human resources management from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and his doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Rochester.<\/p>\n

Sean will direct the program for the Interfaith Chapel as we move forward in the search process for new permanent leadership. We are deeply grateful for Rev. Dr. Yarbrough\u2019s outstanding service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Please join us in expressing our appreciation for Rev. Yarbrough\u2019s remarkable contributions.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

John<\/p>\n

John H. Blackshear, PhD
\nVice President for University Student Life
\nProfessor of Psychology<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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