This year, 11 professors were appointed to tenure-track positions at the University.  The Argus spoke with 10 of them, and a new professor of the practice. 

They are Scott W. Aalgaard, Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies, Mahama Samir Bandaogo, Assistant Professor of Economics, Yaniv Feller, Assistant Professor of Religion, Yu-ting Huang, Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies, Carlos Jiménez-Hoyos, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Justin C. Peck, Assistant Professor of Government, Saray Shai, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Colin Smith, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Daniel Smyth, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, and Tyshawn Sorey, Assistant Professor of Music.

Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies Scott W. Aalgaard

Aalgaard is teaching two courses this semester, CEAS218: “Japan Rocks” and CEAS290: “Japanese Women’s Writing.” His research is concerned with understanding everyday life through the exploration of popular music, literature, and other texts.

“I feel so fortunate to be joining the Wesleyan community,” Aalgaard wrote in an email to The Argus. “I’m surrounded by top-notch scholars in my field, and my interactions with students and faculty colleagues have already been incredibly energizing. I can’t wait for the semester to unfold.”

Assistant Professor of Economics Mahama Samir Bandaogo

Bandaogo is teaching two courses this semester, ECON302: “Macroeconomics” and ECON331:“Open-Economy Macroeconomics.” According to his Wesleyan faculty webpage, his research “focuses on understanding the impact of the informal sector on fiscal and monetary policy, the welfare impact of labor mobility in a currency union and the determinants of the duration of sudden stops.”

“During my fly out to campus I heard a lot about the quality of the students and how engaged they are in the classroom, so I looking forward to being in the classroom,” Bandaogo wrote in an email to The Argus. 

Associate Professor of Religion Yaniv Feller

Feller is teaching two courses this semester, RELI216: “Jesus Through Jewish Eyes” and RELI272: “Thinking After the Holocaust.” According to his faculty webpage, he specializes in “Jewish philosophy, Jewish-Christian relations, post-Holocaust theology, material culture, and museum studies.”

“I am excited to be in a place with such an engaged community of students,” Feller wrote in an email to The Argus. “I hope that faculty and students will continue to work together to make the campus, and the world, a better place.”

Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies Yu-ting Huang

Huang begins her time at the University in 2018. According to her faculty webpage, she specializes in “modern Chinese and Sinophone literature, the transnational literature of Chinese settler migration and diaspora, indigenous literature in East Asia and the Pacific, and the comparative studies of settler colonialism and indigenous politics.”

“As a scholar, I am curious about many different things—different areas of studies, different methodologies—and as a teacher, I enjoy putting these to work with my students and see what new knowledge we can create together,” Huang wrote in an email to The Argus. “Everyone that I spoke to who has any knowledge of Wesleyan assures me that I will meet students who are game to reach beyond conventions, who are excited by new possibilities and intrigued by new ways of knowing. That’s perfect. I am looking forward to it.” 

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Carlos Jiménez-Hoyos

Jiménez-Hoyos is teaching one course this semester, CHEM338: “Physical Chemistry II.” He completed a dissertation with the title of “Variational Approaches to the Molecular Electronic Structure Problem Based on Symmetry-Projected Hatree-Fock Configurations.”

“Joining Wesleyan leaves me both very grateful for the opportunity to lead a group pursuing some of my own research ideas and excited to become part of the process that transforms young students into creative, independent thinkers and model citizens for our community,” Jiménez-Hoyos wrote in an email to The Argus.

Assistant Professor of Government Justin C. Peck

Peck is teaching two courses this semester, GOVT151:“American Government and Politics” and GOVT217: “The American Presidency.” According to his faculty webpage, his research concerns “Congress, the presidency, and American Political Development.”

“I’ve taught at Wesleyan before,” Peck said. “I was here [for the 2014-15 academic year]. I’m excited to be back. I found my experience here to be rewarding both research-wise and teaching-wise, and I’m just excited to be around Wesleyan students again.”

Assistant Professor of Computer Science Saray Shai

Shai is teaching one course this semester, COMP360A: “Topics in Computer Science.” She researches networks, complex systems, and data science.

“I am very excited to join your wonderful Wesleyan community and looking forward to the lovely mild winters I heard you get here,” Shai wrote in an email to The Argus. 

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Colin A. Smith

Smith is teaching two courses this semester, CHEM307: “Molecular Biophysics Journal Club I” and CHEM282: “Practice NMR.” He researches protein design and flexibility.

“I’m really excited about starting at Wesleyan,” Smith wrote in an email to The Argus. “In my short time here, I have already found the students and my fellow colleagues to be very engaging and helpful.”

Assistant Professor of Philosophy Daniel Smyth

Smyth is teaching two courses this semester, COL150: “Great Books Unbound” and COL266: “Aesthetics.” He also holds a position in the College of Letters.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Wes community, where serious academic inquiry is so organically paired with civic and social engagement,” Smyth wrote in an email to The Argus.“Everyone I’ve met has such an interesting ‘portfolio’ of projects, and I’d welcome anyone who wants to talk philosophy (or whatever) to drop by my office to say hello (Boger 317).”

Assistant Professor of Music Tyshawn Sorey

Sorey earned an M.A. from Wesleyan and now returns to campus as a professor. He is teaching two courses this semester, MUSC300: “Seminar for Music Majors” and MUSC459: “Real-Time Autoschediasms Part I.” He most frequently performs percussion, trombone, and piano.

“Wesleyan’s always had a reputation for people who really think outside of the box,” Sorey said. “I’ve never been so impressed with such high-thinking students. I’ve never taught a student body while having so much fun. I’m beyond honored to be in such a place.”

Assistant Professor of the Practice in Integrative Sciences Daniel Moller

Wesleyan also welcomes Assistant Professor of the Practice in Integrative Sciences Daniel Moller. Moller is teaching two courses this semester, CIS170: “Introduction to Design and Engineering” and CIS173: “Introduction to Sensors, Measures, and Data Analysis.”

“The Wesleyan community has been very welcoming and supportive,” Moller wrote in an email to The Argus. “I’m excited to be a part of the university and the new Integrated, Design, Engineering, and Applied Science (IDEAS) program here at Wes!”

The University also welcomes 45 visiting faculty and fellows for the 2017-18 school year.

Brandon Sides can be reached at bsides@wesleyan.edu