Vice President Academic Affairs

At the Franciscan School of Theology (FST), education and spirituality intersect to offer a hopeful, Christ-centered approach to leadership, ministry, and service. Rooted in a Franciscan tradition of theological formation that began in California in 1854, FST carries forward the spirit of St. Francis through rigorous scholarship, authentic community, and preparation for ministry in an increasingly complex world.

FST is a Roman Catholic theology school and seminary accredited by both the Association of Theological Schools and the WASC Senior College and University Commission. As a leading Franciscan theology school in the English-speaking world, FST prepares ordained ministers, pastoral ministers, educators, chaplains, formators, and lay leaders to serve the Church and society while advancing the Franciscan Intellectual and Spiritual Tradition.

FST stands at an important inflection point. Under the leadership of  . Keith Douglass Warner, OFM, who began his presidency in 2026, the institution is building on decades of academic excellence while embracing new opportunities for growth, innovation, and global engagement. The launch of the EdD in Catholic Social Thought in Practice, continued expansion of the online Master of Theological Studies in Franciscan Theology, and a renewed strategic vision have created significant momentum for the institution's future.

The Franciscan tradition shapes every aspect of institutional life. Grounded in the values of encounter, listening, humility, collaboration, and service, FST cultivates a culture that values authentic relationships, intellectual rigor, pastoral engagement, and a deep commitment to human dignity. Faculty, staff, students, and leadership work together in a collegial environment where mission is lived daily and where community is viewed as essential to institutional success.

As a small but highly impactful institution, FST offers the opportunity to lead at a scale where relationships matter and where leadership influence is both visible and meaningful. The next Vice President for Academic Affairs will join a community with extraordinary momentum, a growing national profile, innovative academic programs, and the opportunity to help shape the future of Franciscan theological education during a pivotal moment in the institution's history.

• Salary – $135,000-$145,000
• Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 6.5% match
• PTO: 28 days of flexible PTO per year (covering both vacation and sick leave), plus 13 paid holidays and an annual Christmas break. PTO accrues at a rate of 8.16 hours per pay period.

This is an in-person leadership role with an office in the FST building on the University of San Diego’s campus: 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110. FST requires a consistent on-campus presence, with an expectation of at least four days per week on site.

Reporting directly to  . Keith Douglass Warner, OFM, President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs serves as FST's chief academic officer and second-ranking executive leader. The VPAA provides strategic leadership for academic affairs, faculty development, enrollment-related functions, accreditation, assessment, institutional partnerships, and student success while advancing the school's Catholic identity and Franciscan mission.

The VPAA oversees academic planning, program development, curricular innovation, assessment, faculty lifecycle processes, and institutional effectiveness. The position serves as the primary liaison to accrediting agencies, coordinates FST's academic relationship with the University of San Diego, and collaborates closely with the Academic Committee of the…