Director of the Center for Humanities in Action

Center For Humanities In Action Director

Ursinus College has recently implemented APEX: Applied. Professional. Experiential, which is a learning initiative that integrates across students' entire educational experience, equipping them with the skills and experiences to become forward thinking problem-solvers prepared for success in an ever-changing world. As part of this development, the College has received a 3-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that will establish The Center for Humanities in Action (CHIA) and support a Center Director, with a plan for college support thereafter. This Director will provide vision and leadership for an interdisciplinary center that serves as a nexus for curricular development, co-curricular programming, and community engaged learning designed for students to holistically explore problems related to social justice and human flourishing while centering humanistic inquiry. The Director will simultaneously establish CHIA's reputation as a leading institution for humanistic thinking and inquiry while also empowering all Ursinus students to harness the power of human ingenuity to tackle complex global and local challenges and develop career-ready skills.

As a campus leader, the Director will foster interdisciplinary collaboration across divisions, integrate CHIA into APEX experiences, and develop partnerships with external organizations. The Director will position the Center as a national model for educating students to become thoughtful and critically engaged community leaders and ethically responsible professionals.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Planning

- Work with the grant team to enact a strategic vision for CHIA, an interdisciplinary innovation center that integrates humanistic inquiry, community-engaged learning, and innovation across the liberal arts

- Align CHIA programs with APEX goals in experiential learning, career readiness, and interdisciplinary problem-solving

- Integrate existing APEX hubs that center humanistic and interdisciplinary thinking into the structure of CHIA

- Foster campus-wide dialogue about and engagement with the role of humanistic inquiry in analyzing and advocating for social and restorative justice

- Foster campus-wide interdisciplinary engagement with CHIA

Program Development and Implementation

- Collaborate with the Mellon grant PI and implementation team to establish CHIA

- Develop, support, and oversee CHIA campus and community events, including existing projects such as the Welcome Home Project (a partnership between Ursinus, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and the Perkiomen Valley School District)

- Support faculty and staff in developing new interdisciplinary courses, workshops, and experiential projects connected to APEX, including first-year seminar sections

- Support, advocate for, and facilitate the development of new humanistic coursework in the college's core curriculum

- Develop signature experiential opportunities such as community-engaged learning projects and cross-disciplinary projects and research that build on existing initiatives (such as the Welcome Home Project)

- Partner with academic departments to support humanistic programming and advising

Student Development and Mentorship

- Mentor and advise students pursuing careers and pathways relevant to humanistic inquiry, social justice, and community engagement

- Support first-year programming, including via collaboration with academic and career coaches and mentoring

- Support students in developing professional portfolios that integrate advocacy, community engagement, and interdisciplinary problem-solving

- Collaborate with APEX career coaches, Career and Professional Development (CPD) staff, and faculty mentors to connect students with internships, fellowships, and postgraduate opportunities

- Assist with recruitment and retention of humanities majors to and at the college

- Embed global-local perspectives into student experiences, including opportunities for international and domestic career exploration (such as Go Global) that link humanistic inquiry, justice, and innovation

Campus and Community Engagement

- Convene interdisciplinary faculty teams to create courses and projects addressing societal problems

- Collaborate with campus partners (including our tribal nation partners, Associate Director of Service Learning, Berman Museum, U-Imagine Center, Myrin Library, and more) to integrate responsible innovation and community engagement into APEX career communities and experiential learning week

- Build partnerships with community-based organizations, arts collaboratives, research institutes, regional humanities institutions, and policy organizations

- Represent CHIA in regional and national networks on humanities, justice, innovation, and liberal arts education

Administration and Fundraising

- Partner with the grant PI to manage CHIA's budget and day-to-day operations

- Work with Advancement to secure funding for interdisciplinary projects, student fellowships, and innovation initiatives

- Partner with the CHIA Advisory Council and grant team to strengthen external visibility and support

- Promote CHIA through storytelling, marketing, and public engagement activities

Requirements and Qualifications

- Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant humanistic field

- Demonstrated expertise in interdisciplinary approaches to social justice, community engagement, and programming

- Strong record of student engagement, scholarship, public advocacy, teaching, and/or professional leadership across relevant fields

- Proven commitment to supporting and mentoring individuals from diverse backgrounds.

- Ability to build partnerships and external collaborations that expand student opportunities

- Strong leadership and evidence of organizational change management, financial acumen, and communication skills

Studies have shown that women and underrepresented candidates are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your skillset and its compatibility with this position.

Why This Role Matters

The CHIA Director will build the Center into a key pillar of APEX, advancing Ursinus College's mission to educate students as independent thinkers, responsible leaders, and ethical citizens. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, embedding experiential and career-focused opportunities, and connecting global and local perspectives, the Director will ensure that all Ursinus students gain the skills and experiences needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Ursinus College is a selective, independent, co-educational, residential liberal arts college of approximately 1500 students located about 25 miles northwest of center city Philadelphia. With a diverse community of students, it is an expectation of all faculty to contribute to the inclusion, engagement, and success of all students. Ursinus is an EEO employer. Ursinus College does not discriminate on grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, creed, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, disability, or other classification protected by applicable law in the administration of any of its educational programs or activities or with respect to employment.