Director of the Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program / Lou and Sybil Mervis Chair in Jewish Cultural Studies

Indiana University Academic Positions • Bloomington, IN

38d

About The Position

The Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program at Indiana University, one of the world’s longest-established Jewish Studies programs, invites applications for its next Director. The appointment will be at the rank of full professor, beginning August 2027, and will be made in cooperation with the relevant disciplinary department. Candidates at the rank of associate professor would be considered in exceptional cases. Depending on their research expertise, the Director may also be eligible to hold the Lou and Sybil Mervis Chair in Jewish Cultural Studies for the duration of their tenure. The Director will serve an initial four-year term, with the expectation of renewal for at least one additional term. As Director, the successful candidate will provide visionary leadership to sustain and grow a program that spans literature, history, politics, religious studies, gender studies, sociology, musicology, languages, and the arts. We seek a leader with the capacity to strengthen enrollment, expand partnerships, foster exchange of diverse viewpoints, and articulate and execute a compelling vision for the program’s scholarly profile, public presence, and future growth. The program is home to two centers of excellence: Olamot: Center for Scholarly and Cultural Exchange with Israel, which fosters academic and cultural exchange with Israeli partners, and the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism ( ISCA ), which advances the study of and teaching about contemporary antisemitism and houses a research lab on social media and hate. The program is also advancing several strategic initiatives. These include a major project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and led by ISCA and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Addressing Antisemitism as a Global Challenge: Political, Cultural, and Intellectual Sources and Manifestations , and a new Israel Studies and Business program that connects students with the economic, entrepreneurial, and technological dimensions of contemporary Israel. The program also features an outstanding Hebrew curriculum supported by new technologies, and a strong Yiddish program, along with broad offerings in Jewish history, culture and society. The successful candidate will be a scholar or artist of exceptional distinction, with a PhD or equivalent terminal degree (field-dependent), and a record of original research or creative achievement. Indiana University offers strong support for research and teaching in Jewish Studies. Candidates may come from a wide range of disciplines in the humanities, arts, history and social sciences. The Lou and Sybil Mervis Chair in Jewish Cultural Studies was established to enhance understanding of modern Jewish culture and art, particularly in America, with special attention to Jewish contributions to theater and drama, humor, music, film, literature, radio and television, the visual arts, or related fields. The Mervis Chair provides resources to advance scholarship and creative work, including support for research and related needs.

Requirements

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree (field-dependent).
• A record of original research or creative achievement.
• Scholarly or artistic distinction.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates at the rank of associate professor would be considered in exceptional cases.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership to sustain and grow a program that spans literature, history, politics, religious studies, gender studies, sociology, musicology, languages, and the arts.
• Strengthen enrollment.
• Expand partnerships.
• Foster exchange of diverse viewpoints.
• Articulate and execute a compelling vision for the program’s scholarly profile, public presence, and future growth.
• Advance scholarship and creative work, including support for research and related needs (as holder of the Mervis Chair).

Benefits

• Support for research and teaching in Jewish Studies.
• Resources to advance scholarship and creative work, including support for research and related needs (as holder of the Mervis Chair).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree