Josef Sorett is the Dean of Columbia College, the Henry L. and Lucy G. Moses Professor, and Vice President for Undergraduate Education at Columbia University. As the College’s chief academic officer, he focuses on enhancing the student experience both academically and co-curricularly.

Previously, Dean Sorett chaired the Department of Religion, directed the Center on African-American Religion, Sexual Politics & Social Justice, and was involved in various university committees. He has received Columbia’s Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award and the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence.

An interdisciplinary scholar, Dean Sorett studies religion and race in the Americas, particularly in Black communities. His notable publications include Spirit in the Dark (2016), The Sexual Politics of Black Churches (2022), and Black is a Church (2023). He is currently working on a book titled There’s a God on the Mic: Hip Hop’s (Surprising) Religious History.

His popular courses explore culture, identity, and race, encouraging students to engage critically with impactful ideas. Dean Sorett earned his Ph.D. in African American Studies from Harvard University and has a diverse academic background, including degrees from Oral Roberts University and Boston University.