Dean of Memorial Chapel

Dean of Memorial Chapel

Colgate University

Hamilton, New York

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 role, the Dean will support the diverse spiritual, religious, and pastoral needs of the community and nurture the traditions that make Colgate unique. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced spiritual leader and religious life professional to set a vision that models how 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 hub for campus support, spiritual exploration, community connection, and reflective conversations. The Dean also leads interfaith engagement and collaboration with all Colgate chaplains, student leaders, faculty, and staff. Those members of the diverse religious groups reinforce their faith through campus experiences and daily or weekly practice. Through the Office, students, faculty, and staff gain insights into the values and practices of other traditions, spiritual practices, and secular reflections.

These interactions, open to the local community and university members, encourage dialogue and understanding.

Reporting directly to the President, the Dean will provide leadership and a vision for diverse religious and spiritual life, demonstrate strong administrative and management skills, and collaborate across campus and with off‑campus partners to support the spiritual development of students, staff, and faculty. While not permanently aligned with a specific tradition, the current staffing configuration presents an opportunity for the Dean to also serve as a Christian or Jewish Chaplain.

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. A terminal academic or professional degree and experience leading religious and/or spiritual life programs in higher education is strongly preferred. The Dean will bring strong administrative and supervisory experience, compelling communication, public speaking, oratory skills, and the ability to build community and foster collaboration among diverse constituencies.

Appreciation for multi-faith understanding and the capacity to lead with equanimity, discretion, and integrity are essential. The successful candidate will work collegially in a highly collaborative environment and have experience developing and implementing short‑ and long‑term plans in ecumenical and interfaith contexts.

Salary range: $135,000 - $160,000.

Colgate University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the policy of the university to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws.

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