Back when Sarah Harcourt Watts ’08 was a student at Transylvania University, she took an Intro to Religion class that changed her life. It was so different from what she’d learned before that it opened up new worlds.
The course helped her along a path that led to a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School — and then back to Transylvania, where she recently began as director of religious life with a spirit of engagement and community building.
In her new role, Harcourt Watts is continuing popular programs such as the Wake Up Wednesday service in Old Morrison Chapel and supporting activities like the Asian Student Alliance’s Diwali festival of lights earlier this month. She also holds intentional listening hours and will represent Transylvania at off-campus events and foster connections with local clergy.
“A community is built on relationships, and I see myself as someone who can help make those relationships stronger and help us collectively find more ways to support each other,” Harcourt Watts said. She added that forging connections on campus between individuals and groups can provide a foundation for the university to achieve its broader goals.
Harcourt Watts also wants the spiritual and community care she provides to meet a wide range of needs, whether that’s reaching out to someone who’s grieving or helping a student cope with the everyday stress of college life. She’s a resource to everyone regardless of their religion, or lack thereof — and not ordained in a particular faith, she’s affirming to all. “I just want to meet people exactly where they are.”
Another important role of religion in college life is serving others. As a student working with Karen Anderson, a former longtime coordinator of community service and civic engagement at Transylvania, Harcourt Watts organized activities in neighborhoods off campus. “That kind of outreach is really how I’ve expressed my own religious identity,” she said. “My internal faith formation only goes as far as I can use it to help other people.”
She envisions expanding engagement opportunities with marginalized communities through community service with campus groups such as the Interfaith Alliance, which has a strong presence. “Giving back is one thing a lot of traditions have in common,” Harcourt Watts noted.
When she was in graduate school, she focused on religious diversity and theological studies. She’s been especially interested in how immigration has changed the religious landscape in America and what that means for us civically. Religion has a staying power, something families tend to hold onto over the generations — for instance, her ancestors quit speaking German but remained Catholic over the years.
As for Harcourt Watts’ interest in other faiths, she remembers happening upon the Philosophy and Religion category of the Encarta ’95 trivia game MindMaze as a child. What she learned from it blew her mind. “I thought, they didn’t teach me any of this in school.” She also loves the way religion and spirituality deal with the big questions of life.
In addition to majoring in religion at Transylvania, which is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), she earned an education degree. Having always wanted to work with college students, she returned to the university last year to help the education department with its certification requirements. Then the director of religious life position opened up. “It really was a good fit,” she said. “This role allows me to live out my own vocation, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”