Director of the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization

Director of the Bruce

D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization

The University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Director of the Bruce

D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization, which is a senior endowed chair, rostered within any department in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Director will be a distinguished scholar and dynamic academic leader who brings intellectual vision, collaborative instinct, and entrepreneurial energy to one of the nation's most highly endowed university-based centers dedicated to the study of Western civilization, civic culture, and free inquiry.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished, tenured faculty member with a record of scholarly distinction and teaching excellence, as well as experience in administrative leadership. CU Boulder seeks a director who can lead with credibility and care, engage productively across differences, raise and steward significant philanthropic resources, and position the Benson Center as an indispensable contributor to campus life, student success, and public discourse.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

DO NOT APPLY ON THIS SITE. Applications must be submitted through the Witt Kieffer Candidate Portal. This search is being led by Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D., Suzanne Teer, and Bronwen Bares Pelaez, Ph.D., of Witt Kieffer. Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D. () and Bronwen Bares Pelaez, Ph.D. (). For full consideration, candidate materials should be submitted directly to Witt Kieffer by Friday, August 14, 2026.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

The Benson Center Director includes $90,000 in annual compensation for the Director role, in addition to the base academic-year faculty salary of $175,000-$220,000, depending on the discipline of the joint appointment. Potential research support, course releases, and relocation assistance available, subject to University policy.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation.

Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be engaged. Be visionary. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Advanced academic credentials with an earned doctorate or terminal degree.
• A distinguished record of scholarship and teaching in a relevant field such as history, classics, political science, philosophy, or economics that would warrant a tenured faculty appointment (associate or full professor) within the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Demonstrated interdisciplinary engagement and public-facing scholarship.

Leadership and Strategic Capacity

• Demonstrated leadership experience required to lead and strengthen a nationally recognized academic center, for example: leadership of a department, center, institute, think tank, or comparable organization.
• Ability to conceive, articulate, and execute a strategic vision.
• Strong organizational, financial, and administrative and personnel management skills.
• Demonstrated ability or clear potential to engage successfully in fundraising and donor relations.

Interpersonal and Communication Strength

• Collaborative, transparent leadership style aligned with shared governance.
• Exceptional communication and listening skills.
• Capacity to build trust across ideological, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries.
• An appreciation for shared governance and institutional context.

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and free inquiry.
• Intellectual humility, resilience, and sound judgment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset balanced with institutional awareness.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the Benson Center's mission and for leadership in a public research university.