DEAN OF THE THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL DREW UNIVERSITY

Transcription

1 DEAN OF THE THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL DREW UNIVERSITY The Theological School of Drew University seeks an experienced and visionary dean to assume office prior to the academic year. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. THE SCHOOL AND ITS UNIVERSITY The Theological School has a distinguished history in training clergy for the United Methodist Church and other Protestant denominations in the United States and globally. With a full-time faculty of 23, the Theological School is also a center of ecumenical scholarship and social action. Its student body of 461 (342 FTE) is equally divided by gender, and has no racial or ethnic majority. Among the defining features of Drew Theological School are its historic global orientation, diversity of faculty, staff and students, and innovative program offerings. The School s programs educate students to make a dynamic impact on the world as pastors, professors, forward thinkers, and change agents. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Sacred Theology, and Doctor of Ministry. The Doctor of Philosophy degree is offered through the Graduate Division of Religion (GDR), which is housed within the Theological School, and which currently enrolls 91 students. Degree programs support and promote intellectual rigor, cutting-edge research, experiential teaching and learning, prophetic ministry, and cross-cultural understanding. Faculty and student research is supported in trans-disciplinary thematic areas such as gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, religion and ecology, postcolonialism, and poststructuralism; a women s studies concentration is available in the PhD program. Students are taught by internationally renowned teacher-scholars who are intellectually and socially engaged. The faculty encourages creative thinking beyond traditional boundaries, through small classes and experiential learning opportunities. In the pedagogical context of an ecumenical Wesleyan ethos, ministerial students are encouraged to deepen their commitment to their own faith tradition, while constructively engaging with those of other Christian traditions and other faiths, as well as those of no particular faith tradition. A 2-3 week immersion in a cross-cultural setting is required of all students in the Master of Divinity program, along with a nine month supervised ministry experience. In addition, the Partnership for Religion and Education in Prison (P.R.E.P.) engages Drew faculty and students in courses offered at two of New Jersey s correctional facilities. The Theological School is accredited by the Association of

2 Theological Schools and Drew University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Theological School is one of three major academic units of Drew University, including the College of Liberal Arts, and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Purposely small in size, with 170 full time faculty and an enrollment of 2400 students, the University is committed to fostering both academic excellence and civic engagement. Its innovative liberal arts college, interdisciplinary graduate school, and theological school provide unique opportunities for interrelated teaching and learning across disciplines offering the best possible preparation for responsible citizens in an ever-changing global environment. Drew University is currently searching for a new president, whose appointment is expected by March of Meanwhile, the community has been involved in developing strategic initiatives to guarantee the University s future financial health and support ongoing programmatic innovations. Drew2017, launched in February 2013, is a review and prioritization of academic programs and administrative functions. The goal of this three-year initiative is to develop and implement, in time for the 150 th anniversary observances of Drew s founding, a process that will ensure a balanced budget consistent with projected resources. In addition, the University is working to position Drew as a leader in globalized higher education. In particular, the College of Liberal Arts seeks to increase enrollment of international students. The University is currently exploring partnerships with a private company to achieve that goal. These moves will bring the University s mission into closer alignment with the realities of life in the Theological School, where over a quarter of its student population is international. DREW S THEOLOGICAL MISSION In the words of the Theological School s mission statement adopted by the faculty a decade ago, the School empowers leadership for a global Christianity of justice, ecumenism, and the integrity of creation. Its pastoral, spiritual, and conceptual disciplines grow within an intimate liturgical and communal context, one that sustains multiple relations of difference. Through its particular historical commitments to learning that engages African, Asian, African-American, Hispanic/Latino/a contexts of ministry, and supports women s equal worth and dignity in all contexts of ministry, the Theological School remains faithfully rooted in its Methodist heritage. In addition, the School s mission involves nurturing Christian practices through vital partnerships with local churches and international networks of education. Trans-disciplinary interpretation of texts, traditions, and experiences energizes its scholarly rigor. Drew engenders theologies responsible to the complex social realities of an interconnected world. Into that world Drew sends pastors, preachers and prophets, deacons, activists, and teachers.

3 THE LOCATION The Theological School is located on the Drew University campus in Madison, a town of 16,000 people in the rolling foothills of northern New Jersey, just 30 miles from Midtown Manhattan. The 186-acre campus was formerly an estate called The Forest, and this stunning setting provides a unique living and learning environment for Drew students. Approximately 35% of Drew s masters students and 15% of its PhD students live on the campus. Drew s exceptional library collections include the United Methodist Archives and History Center, one of the world s greatest repositories of Wesleyan-related materials, as well as the Archives of the Society of Biblical Literature. The Drew campus is also home to a professional independent theatre company (The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), and the Charles A. Dana Research Center for Scientists Emeriti. THE DEAN S AGENDA The dean of Drew s Theological School joins the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and the dean of the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies as a member of the University Deans Council, reporting directly to the president. The dean will work closely with the Theological School community to address the following challenges and opportunities: Positioning Drew Theological School for the Future. Just as Drew University has moved decisively to secure its future in higher education, the Theological School must do the same. The School s mission calls for recognizing and promoting synergies between academic scholarship and experiential teaching and learning. Primary goals include encouraging students to imaginatively explore their vocations, preparing them for diverse forms of ministry in the Church and the world, and supporting the cultivation of a spirituality that is both broad and deep. The Graduate Division of Religion (GDR) adds a critical dimension to the Theological School s educational responsibilities. The dean s leadership must include strengthening the GDR within both the Theological School and the University, with an emphasis on defining a coherent vision for the program and securing adequate funding for PhD students. Beyond the gates of Drew, the dean must continue to sustain and deepen ties to the United Methodist Church as well as other church bodies, while also upholding the Theological School s place within the academy. Curricular changes. The Theological School faculty has been engaged in an on-going assessment of its academic programs and services over the past several years. Supported by a generous grant from the General Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church, the School is revising its Master of Divinity curriculum to address the realities of doing ministry in a multi-cultural church and rapidly changing world. Essential elements of the revision include the development and implementation of innovative teaching and learning initiatives, expanded use of technology, flexible scheduling, and continuing education opportunities. The faculty will continue the work of program assessment and revision with the new dean, as the curriculum moves toward greater integration and interdisciplinarity.

4 Financial management. Endowment funds have enabled the Theological School to provide generous scholarships and funding for new initiatives. The Theological School s share of the University s current endowment is $53 million (nearly half in restricted funds), and the School s instructional and administrative budget is approximately $5.5 million. A current $75 million Capital Campaign for the University has earmarked $15 million for the Theological School. However, in this challenging economic climate, there is more demand than ever for assistance to students and programs. The dean will lead efforts to identify and secure additional sources of funding, as well as maintain and in some cases increase student enrollments. The dean will also work closely with the Theological School s advancement officer to develop a plan to raise funds for endowed faculty chairs and to increase financial assistance for all students, including doctoral candidates. Integration/Collaboration. The University community views the Theological School as an integral component of Drew University. The School s international orientation, commitment to global education, and demonstrated success in applied learning provide models for implementing some of the University s strategic goals. Initiatives such as the Center on Religion, Culture & Conflict and the Center for Civic Engagement are two examples of collaborative relations across the University s distinct units. The new dean must interpret the distinctive academic and professional mission of the Theological School and foster collaborative relations where that distinctiveness overlaps with the goals of other schools within the University. Diversity. Within the Theological School community there is a firm commitment to diversity in many forms, sparked by a conviction that differences both enrich the curriculum and deepen experience of human community. Cited by many as one of the School s greatest assets, diversity is understood in the broadest terms, encompassing ethnicity, race, age, nation, gender, sexual orientation, and theological tradition. However, there is acknowledgement that the gift of diversity brings its own set of challenges, and that diligence is required to overcome all forms of discrimination. The dean must establish the tone for continuous critical reflection, while promoting diversity in its fullest forms. Faculty development and support. The Theological School faculty takes pride in the School s collegial and collaborative scholarly culture. Team teaching, collaborative research, and auditing each others courses are not uncommon; annual and occasional lectureships, including both the Tipple-Vosburgh series and the Transdisciplinary Theological Colloquium, among others, bring Drew faculty, students, and alumni into shared dialogue with prominent scholars from around the globe. Since its founding in 2006 thanks to a grant by the Luce Foundation, the Center for Christianities in Global Contexts (CCGC) has supported faculty research and innovative curriculum, mentored GDR students who serve as Center fellows, and hosted visiting scholars and forums that have enriched the Theological School s emphasis on embodied learning and teaching. The dean s leadership in continuing to cultivate global partnerships for teaching and learning through the Center will be vital.

5 The dean will promote the creativity and innovation that are defining features of the Theological School, ensuring a versatile response to the needs of a globalized world and the Church that serves it. The dean will also be the chief spokesperson in articulating the importance and value of scholarship to the Church, on topics erudite and applied. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated track record of success in administration and will be active in the life of the Church, preferably the United Methodist Church or another denomination of the Wesleyan tradition. Ideally, the candidate also will possess an advanced degree (PhD, ThD, or DMin). In addition, the dean will bring the following abilities, in no priority order, to: provide a dynamic vision of the future of theological education, effectively positioning the Theological School s programs within rapidly changing global contexts; promote the imaginative training of congregational ministers, community leaders, scholars, teachers, public intellectuals, and life-long learners, valuing and supporting faculty scholarship to that end; provide constructive and collaborative leadership for faculty, staff, students, and alumni; interpret the Wesleyan heritage with grace and depth of understanding, demonstrating fluency with the connectional ethos of the United Methodist Church, thereby strengthening the School s historical ties to the UMC and to the wider, global Church; negotiate skillfully and strategically, providing effective oversight of personnel, budgets, and resource allocations; bring demonstrated commitment and skills for promoting diversity in its many forms, including intellectual, spiritual, cultural, and denominational matters as well as racial, ethnic, and international diversity and diversity in gender and sexual orientation; appreciate the unique advantages of leading a theological school within a university setting; engage both internal and external constituencies in funding and program support; listen carefully and welcome dissent, while working to build consensus; advocate for the Theological School within the University and promote ongoing collaboration and synergy among all disciplines; express openness, accessibility, and a sense of hospitality to all, empowering faculty, staff, and students to sustain a welcoming, responsive community;

6 bring strong interpersonal skills to lead collaboratively and with integrity, creativity, humility, and humor. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications received by February 14, 2014 will be assured of full consideration. They should include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and a list of six professional references. Materials should be addressed to Prof. J. Terry Todd, Chair of the Dean s Search Committee, and sent electronically (MS Word preferred) to: DTS@agbsearch.com Drew Theological School is being assisted by Dr. Tobie van der Vorm of AGB Search in Washington, DC. Interested candidates or nominators may contact her at (202) or by at ptv@agbsearch.com. Please visit the school s website at or for more information. To enrich education through diversity, Drew University is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.