Director, John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis seeks a dynamic leader and distinguished scholar of religion and U.S. politics to serve as the Director of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. This position reports directly to the Provost.

Established in 2010 by an endowment gift of $30,000,000 from the Danforth Foundation, the purpose of this non-partisan, non-sectarian Center is to provide rigorous education, research, and scholarship on the relationship between religion and politics in the U.S. not only to scholars and students but also to local, state, and national audiences. The Center currently houses five senior and two junior faculty. It offers an undergraduate curriculum, a postdoctoral fellowship program, public programming, academic seminars and conferences, and an online journal. Building upon this foundation, we seek a leader who is eager to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to expand the Center’s academic conferences, publications, programming, public-facing initiatives and partnerships, both in the St. Louis region and in Washington, D.C.  Information about the Center may be found at its website:  https://rap.wustl.edu/.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished scholar, committed teacher, talented administrator, civic leader, and strategic thinker with the intellect, curiosity, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and other personal qualities essential to growing and fostering a diverse community and guiding the Center in a challenging political and religious landscape.

Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, the names of three referees, and a letter of application outlining major contributions to our understanding of the role that religion has played, and continues to play, in shaping democratic values and political discourse in the United States.

A review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The university plans to announce an appointment with a starting date of July 2023.

A Ph.D. (or equivalent terminal degree) and significant scholarly publications in a relevant field are required.  Washington University is committed to excellence through diversity and we particularly encourage applications from persons from underrepresented groups, including women and minorities.  Washington University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

To ensure full consideration, please send your application materials to Jennifer Gibbs (jgibbs@wustl.edu) by Monday, February 13, 2023.