Associate University Chaplain and Director of Dharmic

The Office of Religious and Philosophical Life (RPL) at Tufts University is home to a multi-faith team of chaplains and staff committed to supporting the religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life for all members of the Tufts community across our campuses. Our team provides spiritual care to individuals and communities in times of celebration, change, orcrisis supportmany distinct religious and philosophical communities, educate about spiritual and ethical issues and civic engagement in our religiously diverse world, and promote interfaith friendship, dialogue, and service.

Reporting to the President, the University Chaplain leads the RPL team, which currently includes one Senior Associate University Chaplain and five Associate University Chaplains responsible for Africana Spiritual, Christian (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant), Dharmic (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Sikh), Humanist, Jewish, Muslim,and interfaith life. The team also includes an Associate Director of Programs, Administrative Coordinator, Music Director, Graduate Student Interns, and undergraduate student workers.

RPL works with 15-20 undergraduate and graduate religious and philosophical communities that offer over 30 weekly gatherings and many special programs. Beyond its work supporting these communities, RPL offers its own tradition-specific and multi-faith programming and services for the whole University. The Office also manages the care and use of Goddard Chapel and the Tufts Interfaith Center andmaintainsan active office space in Posner Hall on the Health Sciences campus.

Our Universitypartner, Tufts Hillel, manages the Granoff Family Hillel Center on the Medford campus.

Associate University Chaplains contribute to the overall support of religious and philosophical life at Tufts by providing primary leadership, organization, and advising for the distinct communities they serve. Cultivating a community that is supportive of a pluralistic approach to their particular tradition, they develop and implement programs and events in collaboration with students and other Tufts community members and coordinate regular university ritual and spiritual gatherings in the tradition(s) as well as for holiday/seasonal observances.

Chaplains arrange a wide variety of educational programs related to the tradition(s) for a diverse spectrum of practitioners and for the general university community. They also facilitate graduate and undergraduate interfaith student programs and serve as interfaith liaisons to various schools, departments, offices, and centers across Tufts Chaplains also provide spiritual care to individuals and with small groups, as well as to the larger community in times of both celebration and crisis.

Community and Tradition-Specific Leadership (40%)

• Support and develop inclusive and pluralistic communities on all Tufts campuses, in partnership with Tufts’ various undergraduate and graduate student organizations.
• Plan and lead weekly gatherings, as well as holiday celebrations and communal life observances in partnership with the RPL team, student leaders and campus partners
• Organize regular spiritual formation and educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, such as study programs, retreats, community service opportunities, and holiday celebrations

Specifically, the Director of Dharmic Life:

• • Leads meditation and programs consistent with their own practice and expertise within Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, or Jainism
  • Coordinates schedule for guest leaders
  • Coordinates the Dharmic Spirituality Series each semester
  • Partners with student organizations (Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha, Graduate TBMS, Hindu Student Association and Graduate HSA, Sikh Student Association) to offer dynamic and diverse programs and campus events
  • Maintains and promotes use of the Dharmic Shrine Room at the Interfaith Center
  • Maintains regular communication outlets with Dharmic communities, including overseeing social media and weekly newsletters

Interfaith Engagement and Campus Presence (10%)

• Attend and participate in RPL signature events that highlight pluralism and interfaith cooperation
• Support and co-facilitate specific graduate or undergraduate student councils/groups as assigned

Specifically, the Director of Dharmic Life:

• • Co-facilitates the Graduate Interfaith Circle, a stipended leadership program for graduate students

Liaisons to Schools, Departments, Offices, and Centers (20%)

• Communicate and educate about resources and programs offered…