An Interview With Professor
Susan Ashbrook Harvey
JUSTIN SOHN
Susan Ashbrook Harvey is the Royce Family Professor of
Teaching Excellence and the Willard Prescott and Annie
McClelland Smith Professor of Religious Studies. I had
the privilege of chatting with her about her early years,
her journey to Orthodoxy, and her work as a professor at
Brown. The following exchange is from our conversation.
JS: Could you tell me a little bit about your childhood?
SH: I was born in Rochester, NY, one of four children. My
father was a theology professor in an American Baptist
seminary, and also an ordained minister. My mother was
an early childhood educator and later a social worker. Our
family was very active in church and seminary life.
Two things were instilled in us as children from the very
beginning: love for books, and love for religion. Books
surrounded us