As CTW expands its student body from 15 to 30 students, we also welcome two new faculty. Clifton Granby is Associate Professor of Ethics, Philosophy, and Africana Studies at the Yale Divinity School, and Chris Chambers is currently a Senior Fellow in the Political Science department at the University of Pennsylvania, and will be Assistant Professor of Political Science at Penn starting in Fall 2024.
Professor Granby was drawn to the program because he values spaces that foster critical dialogue and holistic engagement. “CTW prizes the work of careful examination, close reading, and having a broad view of how things hang together,” he shared. “I didn’t hesitate at the chance to join the faculty!” For Chambers, it was important to be part of a program that is committed to the idea that complex philosophical texts are meant for everyone.
Granby and Chambers bring with them expertise in philosophy and the history of political thought, with particular interests in practices of freedom, theories of power, African American political and religious thought, and ecological justice. These topics are at the heart of CTW’s curriculum, and informed this summer’s seminar discussions about what makes a just and flourishing city, what constitutes happiness and freedom, and how we as citizens of New Haven can contribute to democratic life in a way that embodies these goals.
Reflecting on teaching this summer, Granby said he enjoyed “the energy of students coming alive to questions that deeply matter for the way they see themselves and for the social and political worlds they might imagine. The program builds great camaraderie and a sense of personal investment among participants.” Chambers also noted what a pleasure it was to experience “students’ genuine interest in the ideas discussed during seminars and enthusiasm for the learning process.”