Nine faculty members at Bates College have received promotions, including seven who were granted tenure, following recommendations from the Faculty Personnel Committee and approval by the Board of Trustees. The changes took effect on February 6.
Brett A. Huggett has been promoted to professor of biology. Huggett, who joined Bates in 2014, also serves as department chair and is a faculty liaison for women’s cross country. His teaching focuses on dendrology and exploring how tree species respond to environmental stress. Originally trained as a jazz guitarist with a B.A. from Temple University, Huggett shifted his career toward biology after hiking the Appalachian Trail and later earned advanced degrees in forest biology and organismic and evolutionary biology.
Jakub Kazecki was promoted to professor of German. Since joining Bates in 2012, Kazecki has taught courses ranging from introductory language classes to seminars such as “Weimar and Berlin: German Culture in European Context.” His research centers on World War I military literature and humor in serious literary genres. “His foundational research focuses on World War I military literature and the intersection of humor with serious literary genres,” according to the announcement. He is currently chair of the Department of German and Russian Studies.
Yunkyoung L. Garrison was granted tenure and promoted to associate professor of psychology. Garrison joined Bates in 2020 and works on psychological well-being among people of color, immigrants, and refugees while providing clinical services locally. “A scholar-activist, Garrison wants her research to be a ‘catalyst for individual and societal change.'” She collaborated with Somali community leader Fowsia Musse on “Ka Bogso,” an award-winning community project recognized by the Harward Center in 2025.
Lisa R. Gilson has been tenured and promoted to associate professor of politics since joining Bates in 2020. Gilson teaches courses about social movements, Black political thought, democratic theory, literature, and politics. Her scholarship examines how different actors within social movements operate uniquely depending on their organizing style or protest method: “Each has strengths that are particular to what kind of organizing they’re doing and what kind of protest they are doing.” Gilson holds a Ph.D. from Yale University.
Seulgie Claire Lim was granted tenure as an associate professor of politics specializing in comparative politics and international relations with a focus on gender equality, women’s political participation in West Africa—particularly Senegal—and African feminism’s intersection with Islam. Lim grew up in Mauritania after her family moved there from South Korea; she holds a Ph.D., awarded by Boston University.
Zhenzhen Lu was tenured as an associate professor of Chinese at Bates where she studies Chinese literature between the 16th–19th centuries with emphasis on reading practices among village scholars from Shandong province: “Her book…examines a diverse body of local writings in the manuscripts of village scholars from Shandong.” Before joining Bates, Lu held positions at institutions such as New York University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Sarah B. Lynch became an associate professor with tenure after joining Bates in 2022; she teaches classical/medieval studies focusing on medieval education’s impact through history: “Lynch’s work focuses on the social and cultural history of the Middle Ages…” Lynch is currently researching seasonal festivals’ role in western European communities during medieval times.
Courtney P. Smith joined Bates’ theater faculty last year as an associate professor with tenure; Smith specializes in lighting/production management across live performance media including theater/dance/film/events nationwide (and internationally). Smith’s technical expertise contributed significantly to recent campus productions: “Smith brought this experience to Bates last fall when his course…created a digital portrait of Lisbon Street dating back to the days of electric trolley cars.”
Mark L. Tizzoni was awarded tenure/promotion within classical/medieval studies/history departments focusing on global perspectives centering Africa within broader Mediterranean/Afro-Eurasian contexts: “Tizzoni’s teaching focuses on the history of a broader, more globally-defined Middle Ages that centers Africa…” He is currently working on an open-access book about North Africa during late antiquity.
The appointments reflect continued development across academic departments at Bates College.
