Joanna Homrighausen ’15
"In April, I defended my dissertation and earned my PhD in Religious Studies from Duke University — specifically, in Hebrew Bible and its ongoing life in Jewish practice and thought. Since 2020, I’ve lived in Williamsburg, Virginia — colonial Disneyland — where I moved for my then-spouse Michael Runyon ’17 to take up work as the Digital Archivist at the College of William & Mary. I’m in my fourth year teaching Biblical Hebrew and first-year writing courses for the college’s religious studies department. I even get the odd classics major wanting to dip their toes into the Semitic tongues!!
Post-college life continues to hold surprises. My students think they need to have everything figured out by 22. I’ve really only figured things out in my thirties!! I converted to Judaism and figured out I am a trans woman. Life is more complicated yet brings more joys. I’ve got a full slate of fun writing projects. Also, after years of neglecting my three years of Greek, I may have talked my way into teaching New Testament Greek to seminarians next summer…!! So I’ll be relearning my conjugations in the months ahead."
--Joanna Homrighausen ’15