The English Department mourns the loss of Teju Olaniyan, Louise Durham Mead Professor of English and Wole Soyinka Professor of the Humanities. Professor Olaniyan was a visionary thinker, a dedicated mentor, and a most beloved colleague and friend. A world-renowned expert in the study of Anglophone literatures and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora, he was instrumental in creating the Black Global Literatures cluster in our department. We are stunned at this loss and send our deepest condolences to his family. You can read more about Professor Olaniyan’s outstanding career as a scholar and teacher here. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring.