St. Mary’s University seeks to appoint the Beirne Director for the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary’s University, beginning June 2023. Established in 2018, the Center encourages faculty, staff, alumni, and students to explore the impact of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Catholic social teaching, and the characteristics of a Marianist education on knowledge, culture, and faith. With support from donors, endowments, and community partners, the Center hosts innovative programs and offers practical and scholarly resources to enhance both intellectual inquiry and action for social justice. This is a 12-month position; the Beirne Director will report to the Provost and teach one course each semester. The Beirne Director holds the University’s Endowed Chair in Catholic Studies and is tenured in the appropriate department with the rank of associate or full professor. Applicants from diverse academic fields are encouraged to apply. The ideal applicant will have enthusiasm for and demonstrated skill in facilitating cross-disciplinary engagement with the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, including Catholic social teaching.
The Director will lead the Center in fostering vibrant campus conversations and developing exciting programs as well as supporting scholarly activities, publications, and social outreach. The successful candidate will also promote the study of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition in the greater community through external programming such as lecture series and parish partnerships, building upon St. Mary’s University’s positive and supportive relationship with our local bishop and Catholic institutions in the region. An earned doctorate is required as is a strong record of scholarly engagement, including academic contributions to the exploration of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Catholic social teaching.
The Director will work with various University constituencies, including endowed Chairs in Human Dignity, Catholic Philosophy, and History of Hispanic Texas and the Southwest to sustain existing programs that integrate the Marianist heritage of the University and the mission of the Center, including academic activities that explore the future of the Church in the Southwestern United States. The successful candidate will celebrate the University’s approximately 70% Mexican American and Latino student body and highlight San Antonio’s unique and ongoing contributions to Hispanic Catholicism in the United States. Scholars immersed in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition but not practicing Roman Catholicism are also encouraged to apply. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, as well as administrative experience and a willingness to engage in advancement and fundraising, are vital to the success of the Center.
To begin the application process, or to recommend a potential applicant, please contact the chair of the search committee, Professor Allison Gray, via email at agray7@stmarytx.edu with the subject line “Director of the Center for Catholic Studies.” Candidates should provide a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and list of references. A review of prospective candidates will begin immediately; for full consideration, applications should be submitted by December 2, 2022. Information about the Marianist mission of St. Mary’s University and the goals of the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary’s University may be found on the Center’s webpage, https://www.stmarytx.edu/academics/centers/catholic-studies/. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a clear background check.
St. Mary’s University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence (https://www.stmarytx.edu/about/mission-vision/). Founded in 1852, St. Mary’s is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and the oldest Catholic university in the Southwest. St. Mary’s continues to advocate the Marianist mission and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. The University enrolls approximately 3500 students among four schools, offering 40 academic programs including M.A., Ph.D., J.D., and numerous pre-professional programs.
St. Mary’s University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates apply.