Syracuse University invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for a visionary, collaborative, and inclusive leader to guide religious and spiritual life at the university and to serve as the eighth dean of Hendricks Chapel.

Reporting to the chancellor, the dean provides strategic and pastoral leadership that nurtures and enriches religious and spiritual life across the university and its extended community. The dean ensures a dynamic and supportive environment where individuals can explore religious practice, personal spirituality, moral courage, community-building, and social service. This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Syracuse University as it ushers in a new era of leadership with the appointment of Chancellor-Elect J. Michael Haynie. The university seeks a leader who will partner with senior leadership and others to build upon and extend an exceptional foundation that ensures all members of the university community find vibrant and meaningful opportunities for religious life, spiritual engagement, ethical reflection, and interfaith understanding. At the same time, Hendricks Chapel is approaching its centennial in 2030 — a landmark moment that makes this an extraordinary opportunity to shape the institution's next century.

The dean of Hendricks Chapel occupies a complex and highly visible role. The dean oversees the campus ministries; offers counsel, connection, and comfort in times of celebration and challenge; and serves as a steady presence during campus-wide crises. The dean serves as a spiritual resource and trusted sounding board for the chancellor, senior leadership, faculty, students, staff, and the broader university community, participating actively in numerous councils, committees, and groups that touch nearly every facet of campus life.

A central aspect of the role is stewardship of Hendricks Chapel, the spiritual and physical heart of Syracuse University for close to 100 years. Founded with Methodist roots in 1870, the university expanded its religious openness in 1930 when Hendricks Chapel welcomed people of all denominations—a hallmark of its identity ever since. Today, the Chapel stands as an inclusive community known as "a home for all faiths and place for all people," embracing those with established religious traditions, those without a faith tradition, and those seeking spiritual grounding. It supports more than 25 affiliated religious groups and 15 chaplaincies representing major world religions. Together, the chaplaincies offer spiritual guidance, lead worship, promote community service and interfaith dialogue, and work collaboratively in the pursuit of justice and peace. In the 2024-2025 academic year Hendricks Chapel sponsored over 1,500 programs for more than 1,000,000 total attendees—the result of nearly a decade of consecutive year-over-year growth in student engagement. Hendricks Chapel is widely regarded as a national model for interfaith engagement. As a central contributor to holistic life and learning at Syracuse University, it helps to prepare engaged citizens, scholars, and leaders for participation in a changing global society. The chapel's reach extends well beyond worship and spiritual care: its music programs, anchored by the nationally recognized Hendricks Chapel Choir and the beloved Holidays at Hendricks concerts, make it one of the most visible cultural institutions on campus.

Candidates should bring the ability to envision and cultivate a vibrant, inclusive environment in which religious and spiritual exploration flourishes and free inquiry is paramount. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exemplary communication and organizational skills; collaborative and inclusive leadership; a strong moral compass; and deep experience partnering across faiths and backgrounds. They should also possess the capacity to work effectively with a dedicated advisory board and to inspire lifelong connection, engagement, and philanthropic support for the chapel's mission. Given the chapel's extraordinary scope and pace, the next dean must bring sustained energy, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for the full range of demands the role presents. Above all, the successful candidate must be able to serve as a trusted spiritual partner to university leadership and to the broader community.

Candidates should be ordained or credentialed within a faith tradition and hold a seminary or other advanced degree; a Ph.D. is preferred. The successful candidate will bring professional ministry experience; exceptional preaching and pastoral skills; robust administrative ability including hiring, mentoring, and supporting staff; and an informed understanding of public service and ethical issues, along with the ability to foster thoughtful campus dialogue and participation around them.

Founded in 1870, Syracuse University is a private, coeducational research institution with a longstanding commitment to bringing together students from diverse backgrounds. More than 21,000 students are enrolled across nationally recognized undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in the university's 13 schools and colleges. The university employs approximately 2,100 full- and part-time faculty across tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track roles.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile.

WittKieffer is assisting Syracuse University in this search. Review of applications has begun and will continue until an appointment has been made.

Please direct all nominations and applications to Robin Mamlet and Cathryn Davis through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal.