Assistant Professor of Religion (Jewish Studies)
Department of Religion
Position Details: Gustavus Adolphus College invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position of Assistant Professor (or Associate with appropriate qualifications) in the Department of Religion to begin September 1, 2018. The successful candidate will be appointed as the inaugural endowed chair of Jewish studies, which includes an annual stipend and professional development funds. The purpose of the endowed chair is to advance the teaching of Jewish studies and to facilitate a hospitable environment for Jewish religious life on campus.
Required Qualifications: We seek candidates who have an earned doctorate in Jewish Studies or a cognate field with an emphasis on Judaism, but will consider candidates who have achieved ABD status and will complete their degree by September 1, 2018. The successful candidate will have demonstrated effectiveness in teaching and a commitment to teaching and advising undergraduates. Candidates must have a clear research and publication trajectory. A commitment to interreligious cooperation and understanding, the ability to mentor Jewish students, and the ability to support students in the cultivation of Jewish religious life are essential.
Preferred Qualifications: We prefer the ability to teach in dialogue with at least one other religious tradition, in particular with some Christian theological sources. The ability to contribute to general education and to provide courses that contribute to an interdisciplinary program, such as Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies or Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies is welcome. Experience participating in and/or leading Jewish religious and community life is advantageous. Finally, we welcome candidates who appreciate Gustavus’s mission as a church-related (ELCA) liberal arts college.
Major/Essential Functions: Gustavus faculty engage in teaching, research, and service. The annual course load for tenure-track and tenured faculty is six courses; the holder of the Jewish studies endowed position will receive an annual two-course release for administrative responsibilities. All endowed chairs at Gustavus are appointed for renewable three-year terms.
Teaching: Primary teaching responsibilities will include Introduction to Judaism and upper-level courses in the individual’s area of expertise. Additional teaching responsibilities may include courses contributing to general education, such as First Term Seminar, interdisciplinary programs, or a January term course involving experiential learning.
Administration and Outreach: Administrative duties associated with the endowed position will include: collaborate with various offices on campus (e.g., Chaplains’ Office, Admission) to support the religious life and practice of Jewish students; serve on the college’s Interfaith Advisory Board; develop interfaith events both on- and off-campus; and cultivate Gustavus’s relationships with regional Jewish congregations and agencies.
Application Information: Electronic application is required; email application materials as separate PDFs to religion-search@gustavus.edu. The application materials must include: a letter of application that addresses the applicant’s ability to meet the required and preferred qualifications, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy and experience, a statement of research interests, transcripts (scanned copies acceptable), and the names and contact information for three referees, the combination of whom can speak to the required and preferred qualifications. The letter of application should be addressed to:
Dr. Thia Cooper, Search Chair
Department of Religion
Gustavus Adolphus College
800 W College Ave
Saint Peter, MN 56082-1498
Application information is also available at https://gustavus.edu/jobs. For more details, visit the College’s website at https://gustavus.edu/provost/newfaculty/ or contact Dr. Thia Cooper at tcooper@gustavus.edu. For full consideration, applications must be received by October 12, 2017. While applications may be accepted after this date, it is not guaranteed that they will be considered. Finalists may be asked to submit syllabi, publications, and/or student evaluations. Initial phone interviews will be conducted in November 2017.
Institution Information: The Religion Department has faculty who teach and conduct scholarship in areas as diverse as Christian theology, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhist Studies, interreligious studies, and Biblical Studies. This new position in Jewish studies will enhance this diversity and enable the department to engage in deeper interreligious conversations. The department is committed to students and faculty from diverse cultural groups, to cultivating in students intercultural and interreligious engagement, and to offering more courses with interreligious components. Our faculty participate actively in the college’s interdisciplinary programs and general education. Further, the Gustavus Strategic vision aims to equip students to lead purposeful lives and to act on the great challenges of our time.
Gustavus Adolphus College is a coeducational, private, Lutheran (ELCA), residential, national liberal arts college of 2200 students. The College maintains a longstanding commitment to excellence through diversity with a special emphasis on global engagement and service. Additionally, we strive to be a community supportive of all kinds of individuals and families. As an Affirmative Action employer, it is the policy and practice of Gustavus Adolphus College to provide equal employment opportunities for all. EOE Employer/Disabled/Vet