Dean of Memorial Chapel

Overview

Colgate University, a thriving, highly selective liberal arts university located in Hamilton, New York, invites applications and nominations for the Dean of Memorial Chapel (Dean) position. In a newly established position, the Dean will support the diverse spiritual, religious, and pastoral needs of the Colgate University community and nurture the religious and spiritual traditions that make Colgate unique. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced spiritual leader and religious life professional to set a vision that makes Colgate University a model of how religious and spiritual life creates a vibrant community for all, across faith and non‑faith traditions.

The Dean will lead the Office of the University Chaplains, an established and important religious and spiritual hub for campus support, spiritual exploration, community connection, and reflective conversations. The Dean also leads interfaith engagement and collaboration with all of Colgate's chaplains, student leaders, and faculty and staff. Members of Colgate's diverse religious groups reinforce their faith through campus experiences and daily or weekly practice.

Through the Office of the University Chaplains, Colgate's students, faculty, and staff also gain insights into the values and practices of other traditions, spiritual practices, and secular reflections. These interactions, open to the local community as well as University community members, encourage dialogue and understanding.

Reporting directly to the President, the Dean will provide leadership and a vision for Colgate's diverse religious and spiritual life, demonstrate strong administrative leadership and management skills to effectively guide the Office of the Chaplains' operations and strategy, and collaborate across campus and with off‑campus partners to support the religious and spiritual development of students, staff, and faculty. While the Dean of Memorial Chapel role is not permanently aligned with a specific religious tradition, the current staffing configuration of the Office of University Chaplains presents an opportunity for the Dean of Memorial Chapel to also occupy a role as a Christian or Jewish Chaplain to the University.

The ideal candidate will hold an accredited Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or comparable training with at least six years of full‑time religious leadership experience. There is a strong preference for candidates with a terminal academic or professional degree and experience leading religious and/or spiritual life programs in a higher education context. The Dean will bring strong administrative and supervisory experience, compelling communication, public speaking, and oratory skills, demonstrated ability to build community and foster collaboration among diverse constituencies, an appreciation for multi-faith understanding, and the ability to lead with equanimity, discretion, and integrity.

The successful Dean candidate will work collegially in a highly collaborative environment with students, staff, and faculty, and bring experience developing and implementing short‑ and long‑term plans in ecumenical and interfaith contexts.

Colgate University has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search. All inquiries, applications, and nominations should be directed in confidence to the search firm, as indicated in the Special Instructions area.

The Dean of Memorial Chapel is a full‑time, year‑round position dedicated to supporting the spiritual, religious, and pastoral needs of the Colgate University community. The dean provides leadership for all chaplains within the Office of the University Chaplains. The Dean also leads interfaith engagement and collaboration with all of Colgate's chaplains, student leaders, and faculty and staff.

Colgate University's religious and spiritual life staff includes four full‑time chaplains—who represent a variety of traditions including Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Catholic faiths—and a talented and high‑performing full‑time program coordinator who serves as an important administrative coordinator for the…