Position Overview
Earlham College invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of The Earlham School of Religion (ESR), its nationally respected Quaker seminary with a historic commitment to spiritual formation, rigorous scholarship, and social transformation. Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean serves as the principal administrator for ESR, providing vision, strategic leadership, and faithful stewardship in support of the school’s mission within Earlham College and the wider Religious Society of Friends.
The Dean will lead ESR at a pivotal moment, guiding curricular innovation, faculty development, and program growth while strengthening enrollment, institutional partnerships, and financial sustainability. Working collaboratively with faculty within the School and Earlham College, the Dean oversees academic planning faculty personnel process, evaluation, and resource allocation, and ensures adherence to shared governance and institutional policies. The role includes close collaboration with Bethany Theological Seminary on shared academic programs, partnership with Earlham’s academic and administrative leadership, and active engagement with the Earlham College Board of Trustees and ESR’s Board of Advisors.
The full prospectus document for this position can be found here.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide leadership to ESR in curricular planning and missional focus.
- Provide academic and administrative leadership across key areas, including faculty leadership in program and curricular development.
- Oversee and coordinate all faculty personnel processes, including faculty searches, and advise the SAVP on recommendations for appointment, renewal, and promotion of regular faculty.
- Supervision of ESR teaching faculty, administrative faculty, and Quaker Leadership Center directors.
- Oversees, in accord with established policy, the allocation of resources and faculty development opportunities.
- Ensures the review and evaluation of teaching and administrative faculty as outlined in the Faculty Handbook.
- Coordinate collaboration between ESR and Bethany Theological Seminary to support the effective planning and execution of shared academic programs.
- Work with Earlham leadership in enrollment management, marketing communications, the Registrar’s office, and other key areas, to ensure effective collaboration.
- Oversee and monitor ESR’s fidelity to authoritative governance procedures.
- Lead and oversee all aspects of ATS (Association of Theological Schools) accreditation for ESR, including compliance, reporting, continuous improvement processes, and preparation for reaffirmation reviews.
- Serve ex officio as a member of the Board of Advisors and as a member of the School of Religion Committee of the Earlham Board of Trustees.
- Work with the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs in preparing an annual budget for consideration by the Board of Trustees and monitor adherence to this budget once approved.
- Teach one or two Quakerism courses per year at ESR as part of the Quaker Studies Program.
- Work closely with the offices of Academic Affairs and Religious Life to strengthen curricular and cocurricular connections between the undergraduate college and School of Religion.
- Represent the School at Yearly Meetings as well as national and international organizations affiliated with the Religious Society of Friends.
- Serve as the primary major gift officer for the seminary, leading donor cultivation and solicitation efforts, while working closely with Earlham’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement and the Institutional Advancement Office on the ESR annual fund, planned giving, and grant and foundation fundraising efforts.
- Work with the SAVP on matters affecting the welfare of ESR and of Earlham as a whole.
Qualifications
- Practicing member of the Religious Society of Friends, committed to Quaker faith, testimonies, and practices.
- Terminal academic doctorate (e.g., Ph.D., Th.D., D.Phil.) in an area of religious, theological, or closely related field of study.
- An academic record appropriate to appointment as a tenured/senior member of the faculty and a record of successful leadership, administration, and scholarship.
- Demonstrated ability and experience in academic administration, including budget development, fiscal oversight, and effective allocation of resources in support of institutional priorities.
- Proven experience teaching in face-to-face and distance learning modalities, including synchronous and asynchronous instruction.
- Ability to engage with a theologically diverse student body.
- Must be committed to working within a Quaker ethos that values integrity, consensus decision-making, equity, justice, and peacemaking.
To Apply
Please submit the following application materials along with your application via Earlham’s career site, here:
- Cover letter: Applicants should submit a cover letter specifically describing how their qualifications and experience prepare them for this role.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Supplemental Statement: Submit no more than one page that addresses the following: How does the existence of the Earlham School of Religion benefit the Quaker world, and how would you describe the importance of ESR’s mission?
- Reference Contacts: Include contact information for four professional references.
- Nominate: You may nominate candidates for this position by sending names, contact information, and a brief bio to James Logan (write “ESR Dean Search Nomination” in the subject line).
Application materials may be submitted through March 22, 2026, with review of applications to begin on March 23, 2026.
Friends Association for Higher Education 