Betsy Sandlin

Betsy Sandlin is a Professor in the Department of Spanish at the University of the South (Sewanee) and serves as the Associate Dean for Inclusion and Faculty Development. With fifteen years of teaching experience at Sewanee, her work emphasizes classroom inclusivity, fostering trust, and creating guidelines to ensure diverse voices are heard. She co-directs Sewanee’s Center for Teaching, which supports faculty collaboration and pedagogical innovation.

Sandlin’s academic journey was shaped by learning Spanish and traveling, which she credits for broadening her perspective beyond her rural Kentucky upbringing. She pioneered courses on U.S. Latinx authors at Sewanee, reflecting her commitment to integrating diverse identities into curricula. Her advocacy extends to student well-being, emphasizing authenticity and open dialogue in higher education.

Sandlin highlights Sewanee’s progress in transforming campus conversations about diversity into concrete initiatives, including clubs and task forces addressing equity and inclusion. She openly shares her experience as a first-generation college student to connect with students and challenge assumptions about affluence.