This fall, the School of Critical and Creative Humanities welcomed Dr. Priscilla Layne, the new Diefenbaker Chair in German Literary Studies, and the School of Social, Political and Historical Research welcomed Dr. Talia Bettcher, one of Waterloo's three inaugural Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs. Both acclaimed scholars join the University from U.S. institutions — we're so honoured they chose Waterloo Arts!
Priscilla Layne, the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker Memorial Chair in German Literary Studies
Dr. Priscilla Layne is an internationally recognized scholar in German literature, film, Afrofuturism and Black German studies, Layne joins Waterloo after 15 years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her appointment reflects Waterloo’s continued success in attracting leading international scholars whose work bridges disciplines and connects global and local conversations.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Layne joining us as our first hire for the School of Critical and Creative Humanities,” says Dr. Alexie Tcheuyap, Dean of the Faculty of Arts. “With her multi-disciplinary background, her scholarship is a natural fit for creating collaborative opportunities in research and teaching in the Faculty of Arts.”
As the third scholar to hold the Diefenbaker Chair, a donor-funded endowed research position established in 2007 through the generosity of a private philanthropic foundation, Layne will also lead the Waterloo Centre for German Studies (WCGS), helping expand its role in research, teaching and public engagement.
A destination for humanities scholarship
For Layne, the opportunity offers the chance to lead one of Canada’s leading centres for German studies, while joining a university with a strong reputation for interdisciplinary collaboration.
“The WCGS is a unique space committed to hosting interesting events that cater to the local community but also branch out to connect scholars and students internationally,” Layne says. “Waterloo itself has an excellent reputation, and there are many scholars here in fields adjacent to mine. The start of the new School of Critical and Creative Humanities will allow me to make those kinds of cross-disciplinary connections.”.
Talia Bettcher, Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair in Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Trans Community Resilience
Dr. Talia Bettcher is internationally recognized as a ground-breaking philosopher and scholar in the interdisciplinary field of transgender studies and an award-winning teacher with decades of leadership experience in academia and in the trans community.
As one of Waterloo's prestigious Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs, she will receive long-term funding and institutional support to lead an ambitious research program aligned with Canada’s strategic priorities. Bettcher will conduct community-engaged research on gender-based and transphobic violence, working with community partners to develop new frameworks for understanding trans experiences and translating that knowledge into practical tools, policies and interventions.
Q & A with Dr. Bettcher
As a founding scholar in trans philosophy, tell us about your research and community engagement.
When I first started doing what came to be known as “trans philosophy” I didn’t have a method expressly formulated in my mind. I was simply motivated by this thought: “The current ways of making sense of my trans experiences don’t work. But I’m a smart woman. Why don’t I try to figure it out on my own?” It wasn’t until trans philosophy began to take off that I could turn around and really say, “Ok. So, that’s what I was doing.”
What I was doing was describing experiences of trans people that didn’t make sense in the mainstream and that weren’t captured by the leading theories. And then I created ideas – concepts – that allowed me to illuminate various types of trans experiences and how they fit together. My foundational concern has always been structural violence and abuse against trans people and its intersection with sexist structural violence and abuse.