Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies

Santa Clara University•Santa Clara, CA

3d•$86,284 - $95,901•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, seeks applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in Jewish Studies. SCU is a welcoming and inclusive community of teaching scholars whose work is grounded in the University’s fundamental values. Those values, which include academic excellence, social justice and community engagement, are infused with a culture of care that defines our community—upholding the dignity of all. The University draws on the many resources of the greater Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, where we are located. The department seeks candidates with competence in both the study of religion and Jewish Studies. The area of scholarly concentration, region(s) of focus, methodological approach, and time period are open. Possible areas of scholarly expertise and methodological approaches include, but are not limited, to the environment/ecology, ethics, technology, history, social scientific approaches, and/or interreligious dialogue. Successful candidates will demonstrate that they are committed to pursuing their scholarship and teaching within a framework committed to the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candidates must also show evidence of excellent university-level teaching, an agenda for scholarship leading to publication in the area of Jewish Studies, and an understanding and support of the University’s Jesuit, Catholic mission. In addition, a successful candidate will contribute to the university’s ongoing effort to build relationships with local Jewish communities, and related initiatives within Silicon Valley, as part of their overall contributions to the Hazon Forum, an initiative recently funded by the Koret Foundation. The department of Religious Studies at Santa Clara University is a multidisciplinary department, representing a variety of fields in biblical, theological, and religious studies (www.scu.edu/religiousstudies). The successful candidate will offer a range of undergraduate courses that would serve the department’s participation in the University’s Core Curriculum (www.scu.edu/core) and our major and minor. The candidate will teach six courses per year on the quarter system. The department expects that the successful candidate will also develop interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary connections with faculty in other departments and programs working in similar areas, and with the University’s Centers of Distinction. The successful candidate will start on September 1, 2027 and be expected to teach, engage in scholarship and/or creative work, and do service for the department, college, University, and profession. SCU is on the quarter system and tenure-stream faculty are expected to teach six courses per year (two each quarter), assuming they are actively engaged in scholarship or creative work. The College of Arts & Sciences is currently conducting a cluster hire in the area of Inequality & Social Justice. If the person hired for this position has research and teaching interests that are aligned with this program, they may be included in the Fall 2027 cohort. Participants in the cluster hiring program will receive mentoring, frequent group sessions that offer peer support, and access to an interdisciplinary intellectual community to help them with their scholarly and creative work. The salary range for this position is $86,284 to $95,901, depending on the successful candidate's years of teaching experience at the college level. The position comes with generous benefits (scu.edu/hr/benefits), including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and University contributions toward retirement. Recognizing the high cost of housing in the local area, there are two University housing assistance programs: Rental assistance to ease the transition into the local housing market, and housing purchase assistance for tenure-stream faculty.

Requirements

Terminal degree (Ph.D.) in Jewish Studies/Religious Studies or a related field by appointment start date (September 1, 2027).
Demonstrated potential for effective and inclusive teaching and mentoring of a diverse undergraduate student population.
Leadership potential within both the university and within the broader community, including in the Hazon initiative.
Evidence of an agenda for scholarship and promise of publication in the field of Jewish Studies.
Understanding and support of the University’s Jesuit, Catholic mission.
Ability to contribute to the university’s ongoing effort to build relationships with local Jewish communities, and related initiatives within Silicon Valley, as part of their overall contributions to the Hazon Forum.

Nice To Haves

Scholarly concentration, region(s) of focus, methodological approach, and time period are open.
Possible areas of scholarly expertise and methodological approaches include, but are not limited, to the environment/ecology, ethics, technology, history, social scientific approaches, and/or interreligious dialogue.
Research and teaching interests that are aligned with the College of Arts & Sciences cluster hire in the area of Inequality & Social Justice.

Responsibilities

Teach lower- and upper-division courses in the major and university core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including introductory-level courses in religious studies such as Ways of Understanding Religion and mid and upper level courses in the faculty member’s area(s) of expertise.
Develop a program of research or creative work at SCU that will result in meeting the Religious Studies Department’s established scholarship/creative standards.
Provide effective service to the Department of Religious Studies, the College of Arts and Sciences, the University and the profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship, such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university, as appropriate to rank and experience, including to the newly established Hazon Forum.