Dean of Memorial Chapel

Hiring Wage/Salary Range: $135,000-$160,000

Professional Experience/ Qualifications:

• At least six years of full-time religious leadership experience.
• Strong administrative and supervisory experience.
• Strong communication, public speaking, and oratory skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build community and foster collaboration among diverse constituencies and an appreciation for multifaith understanding.
• Proven experience developing and implementing short- and longer-term plans in ecumenical and interfaith contexts.
• Ability to work collegially in a highly collaborative environment with students, staff, and faculty.
• Ability to lead with equanimity, discretion, and integrity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior campus ministry experience or experience working in a college or university setting is strongly preferred.
• Ordination and/or authorization to preside over ceremonies and rituals in one’s tradition.

Education:

An accredited Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or comparable academic credentials or training; an academic or professional doctoral degree preferred.

Offer Determination:

When extending an offer, Colgate University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations.

Other Information:

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For best consideration, full applications (resume, cover letter, and a sample written pastoral reflection or sermon) should be submitted by July 1. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/colgate-university/dean-memorial-chapel.

Benefits:

Colgate University offers a competitive benefits package, with most benefits effective on the date of hire. Highlights include: medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, paid family leave, health & wellness, continuing education and professional development. We also offer unique perks, such as free parking, gym discounts, bookstore savings, athletic tickets, and access to cultural and recreational facilities. Explore the full benefits package on our Benefits page.

Department Statement:

Office of the University Chaplains
Colgate’s Office of the University Chaplains is an established and important religious and spiritual hub for campus support, spiritual exploration, community connection, and reflective conversations. The chaplains and administrative staff are collectively and individually committed to nurturing communities of spiritual practice and to encouraging conversations with the community across faith traditions and with secular skeptics alike.

Members of Colgate’s diverse religious communities reinforce their spirituality through campus experiences and daily or weekly practice. Through the Office of the University Chaplains, Colgate’s students, faculty, and staff also gain insights into the values and practices of other traditions, spiritual practices, and secular reflections. These interactions, open to the local community as well as University community members, encourage dialogue and understanding.

Many religious traditions also have active independent student organizations at Colgate, providing a vibrant and diverse community with regular opportunities for worship and spiritual practice. Most of these organizations are advised by the chaplains, and through these connections, students meet for worship, prayer, discussions, learning, and the sharing of meals within Memorial Chapel. The chaplains routinely support these on-campus opportunities and many others in collaboration with local congregations. Memorial Chapel is also the home for Colgate’s Secular Association of Skeptical Students and other programs such as the Heretics Club and Morning Reflections.

Accountabilities:

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 position, the Dean will support the diverse spiritual, religious, and pastoral needs of the Colgate University community and nurture the religious and spiritual traditions that make Colgate unique. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced spiritual leader and religious life professional to set a vision that makes Colgate University a model of how religious and 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 religious and spiritual hub for campus support, spiritual exploration, community connection, and reflective conversations. The Dean also leads interfaith engagement and collaboration with all of Colgate’s chaplains, student leaders, and faculty and staff. Members of Colgate’s diverse religious groups reinforce their faith through campus experiences and daily or weekly practice. Through the Office of the University Chaplains, Colgate’s students, faculty, and staff also gain insights into the values and practices of other traditions, spiritual practices, and secular reflections. These interactions, open to the local community as well as University community members, encourage dialogue and understanding.

Reporting directly to the President, the Dean will provide leadership and a vision for Colgate’s diverse religious and spiritual life, demonstrate strong administrative leadership and management skills to effectively guide the Office of the Chaplains’ operations and strategy, and collaborate across campus and with off-campus partners to support the religious and spiritual development of students, staff, and faculty. While the Dean of Memorial Chapel role is not permanently aligned with a specific religious tradition, the current staffing configuration of the Office of University Chaplains presents an opportunity for the Dean of Memorial Chapel to also occupy a role as a Christian or Jewish Chaplain to the University.

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. There is a strong preference for candidates with a terminal academic or professional degree and experience leading religious and/or spiritual life programs in a higher education context. The Dean will bring strong administrative and supervisory experience, compelling communication, public speaking, and oratory skills, demonstrated ability to build community and foster collaboration among diverse constituencies, an appreciation for multifaith understanding, and the ability to lead with equanimity, discretion, and integrity. The successful Dean candidate will work collegially in a highly collaborative environment with students, staff, and faculty, and bring experience developing and implementing short- and long-term plans in ecumenical and interfaith contexts.

Colgate University has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search. All inquiries, applications, and nominations should be directed in confidence to the search firm, as indicated in the Special Instructions area.

Dean of Memorial Chapel
The Dean of Memorial Chapel is a full-time, year-round position dedicated to supporting the spiritual, religious, and pastoral needs of the Colgate University community. The dean provides leadership for all chaplains within the Office of the University Chaplains. The Dean also leads interfaith engagement and collaboration with all of Colgate’s chaplains, student leaders, and faculty and staff.

Colgate University’s religious and spiritual life staff includes four full-time chaplains—who represent a variety of traditions including Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Catholic faiths—and a talented and high-performing full-time program coordinator who serves as an important administrative coordinator for the office’s programs and many student organizations that seek the office’s advising and support.

The new Dean will lead the chaplains as a collective and will serve as the direct-line supervisor for each of the chaplains individually. Together, the Dean, chaplains, and program coordinator will work as a team to foster religious and spiritual education and community at Colgate.

The Dean will report to the Office of the President for University-wide initiatives, services, and events such as Convocation and Baccalaureate, as well as support for faculty and staff. At moments of celebration for the University, such as Commencement, and in times of crises and community loss, the Dean will work with the University President to provide spiritual support and leadership. The Dean will collaborate closely with the Office of the Vice President and Dean of the College for weekly programs, student organization advising, and other activities that create a vibrant student life experience.

For a full description and/or to inquire about, apply to or nominate for the position, go to https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/colgate-university/dean-memorial-chapel.

Requisition Number: 2026S040Posting

Temporary: No

Work Schedule: Weekdays

Job Open Date: 06/03/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions Summary:
Colgate University has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For best consideration, full applications (resume, cover letter, and a sample written pastoral reflection or sermon) should be submitted by July 1. The salary range for this position is $135,000 – $160,000. For a complete description, and submission of inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters go to https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/colgate-university/dean-memorial-chapel.

Ernest Brooks is leading this search with Janette Martinez and Henry Nickerson.