Endowed Chair in Catholic Leadership and Director of the Habiger Institute

The Department of Catholic Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas (MN) invites applications for the inaugural John and Paula Kelly Family Endowed Chair in Catholic Leadership and Director of the Habiger Institute for Catholic Leadership to begin September 1, 2026. The chair holder will be simultaneously a tenure-track faculty member of the Department of Catholic Studies at the rank of associate or full professor and director of the Habiger Institute.

The Department of Catholic Studies offers an undergraduate major and minor as well as a graduate certificate and master’s degree. Guided by the principles of Ex corde ecclesiae and Fides et ratio, we are committed to sustaining and developing the Catholic intellectual tradition. We seek candidates who share these commitments. As an interdisciplinary department, we seek candidates whose disciplinary expertise is coupled with an interdisciplinary habit of mind and an ability to teach in an interdisciplinary way. To this end, we seek candidates with expertise in one of the multiple elements of the Catholic intellectual tradition (including but not limited to history, literature, art, theology, or philosophy) and expect that candidates will demonstrate how their teaching engages the tradition as a coherent whole. Candidates should have a clearly established scholarly agenda, and evidence of ability to teach across disciplinary boundaries and connect with students from varied backgrounds and with varied interests. The successful candidate must have a terminal degree in an academic field germane to Catholic Studies. Besides undergraduate teaching, graduate teaching and the ability to develop hybrid in-person/online courses for the Catholic Studies master’s program is also expected. The expected teaching load is four courses (16 credits) per year to accommodate the administrative responsibilities of the directorship. Learn more about the Department of Catholic Studies at the following link: Catholic Studies.

The Habiger Institute for Catholic Leadership, which is housed within the Center for Catholic Studies, offers a range of opportunities for students to develop the fortitude and character required to live as faithful professionals, ethical leaders, and joyful Catholics in a complex world. Some of its programs include the First and Second Year Living Learning Communities, the Guadalupe’s Scholars Program, the Mission and Culture in Catholic Education Programs, and Leadership Interns. These programs play a significant role in the lives of Catholic Studies students. We seek candidates with administrative experience who can lead the Habiger Institute with programs that will help students integrate their intellectual, moral, social, spiritual, and professional lives. In addition to the reduced teaching load, a stipend is provided for summer administrative duties. Learn more about the Habiger Institute for Catholic Leadership at the following link: Habiger Institute.

About the University of St. Thomas

The University of St. Thomas is a dynamic, mission-driven, urban university. Located in a residential neighborhood with easy access to two downtown metropolitan areas and Minneapolis-St. Paul international airport, we are Minnesota’s largest private university with eight schools and colleges, 150+ undergraduate majors/minors, and 55 graduate programs. Learn more about life as a faculty member at St. Thomas at the following link: Faculty at St. Thomas.

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic. This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

Salary & Benefits

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Up to 100% tuition remission for employees and dependents upon eligibility.
• Up to 50% tuition remission for spouses upon eligibility.
• A generous employer retirement contribution of 9.4% of annual salary upon eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Employer-paid disability, life, and AD&D benefits
• All eligible full-time faculty may request Parental Leave for the birth or adoption of a child.

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000.

The University of St. Thomas has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

Qualifications for the position include:

• A PhD (U.S. or Foreign Equivalent) in history, literature, art, theology, or philosophy or a related field germane to Catholic Studies.
• At least three years of teaching experience.
• Demonstrated ability to teach in an interdisciplinary way.
• A clearly established scholarly agenda.
• Three years of administrative experience in programs that help students integrate their intellectual, moral, social, spiritual, and professional lives.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/. You will first be asked to create an applicant profile. On the applicant profile page, please upload the following materials to your profile:

• A cover letter that details your interest in the position and how you meet the qualifications.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A scholarly writing sample.
• Contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without permission from the candidate, with contact planned during the later stages of the search.

After creating and submitting an applicant profile, you will be taken to the job-specific application. To finish the application, you must submit EEO, Veteran, and Disability self-identification forms. 

Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2025, for full consideration and will continue until the position is filled. Please contact the search chair, Dr. John Boyle (jfboyle@stthomas.edu), if you have any questions.

Established in 1885, the University of St. Thomas is located in the major metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and is Minnesota’s largest private university. Its 10,000 students pursue degrees in a wide range of liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs.

Official job posting is available at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/.