Dr. Joan Branham to Serve as Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Branham has been an integral member of the PC faculty – and community – since she was hired as an assistant professor of art history in 1995. A full professor since 2009, Dr. Branham has taught courses that include “Sacred Space in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,” “Introduction to Jewish Art and Architecture,” “Art History Survey,” and “The Gothic Cathedral Encoded.”
She also has remained an active and sought-after scholar on subjects related to theories of sacred space in the ancient Jerusalem Temple, the art of late-antique synagogues and churches, and the relationship of gender, blood, and sacrifice in ancient Judaism and Christianity. Dr. Branham has earned several postdoctoral fellowships, including from The Getty Center, the Sorbonne, and the Women’s Studies in Religion Program at Harvard Divinity School. She has also been a go-to scholarly consultant in documentary film projects appearing on the History Channel, PBS, and Discovery Channel.
Dr. Branham has been associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences since 2014. In this role, Dr. Branham has been a leader in several key initiatives. These include serving as a co-lead on the College’s successful Phi Beta Kappa application process, chairing the Core Curriculum Administrative Team, co-chairing the Liberal Arts Task Force, and helping advance a series of faculty development and scholarship initiatives, such as the Summer Scholars and Interdisciplinary grants program.
