Josef Sorett is an American scholar of religion and race in the Americas. He has served as the Dean of Columbia College of Columbia University since July 2022.[1]
Josef Sorett received a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science from Oral Roberts University, an MDiv in Religion and Literature from Boston University in 2000, and his PhD in African American Studies from Harvard University.[2]
Sorett began teaching at Columbia University in 2009, and later became Professor of Religion and African American and African Diaspora Studies, Chair of the Department of Religion, and Director of the Center on African-American Religion, Sexual Politics and Social Justice. His research focuses on how religion has shaped cultures of Black communities and movements in the United States, from a perspective that straddles history, literature, religion, art, and music.[2] Sorett is the editor of The Sexual Politics of Black Churches published by Columbia University Press in 2022.[3] The book investigates the politics of sexuality within Black churches and their communities. Sorett, who since 2022 has also served as Chair of Columbia University's Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee to "foster an inclusive campus community" with dialogue about campus racism, received Columbia's Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2022.[4] [5] [6]
Since July 2022, Dr. Sorett has served as the Dean of Columbia College and Vice President of Undergraduate Education.
During Columbia's annual alumni reunion on May 31, 2024, Sorett texted with three other Columbia deans in a disparaging fashion about a panel about antisemitism on campus, responding "yup" to derogatory comments that the other deans had made and at one point texting "LMAO".[7] [8] [9]
On June 8, Minouche Shafik, then President of Columbia University, stated that the messages "revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes" and were "unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community."[10] Columbia Provost Angela Olinto announced a series of steps to "hold those involved in the incident accountable." The three deans other than Sorett were placed on indefinite leave and "permanently removed from their positions at Columbia College" and ultimately resigned on August 8.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Sorett was not placed on leave, but the Provost announced that he would apologize in writing to the Columbia College community and that he would be given "the support and partnership of the deans with whom he works closely to shape and deliver our undergraduate academic programs." Sorett apologized the next day, on June 9.[16] A petition signed by more than 2,000 students, alumni, and parents called on the college to also remove Dr. Sorett for his role in the incident.[17]