Cottrill-Rolfes Chair in Catholic Studies
University of Kentucky
College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY invites applications for the endowed Cottrill-Rolfes Chair in Catholic Studies to begin August 2022. Competitive applicants will have the rank of Full Professor or its equivalent in scholarship and experience, and a strong reputation related to some aspect of Catholic Studies. The endowment describes Catholic Studies as “the study of the history, literature, philosophy, music, culture, ideology, politics, institutions and traditions of Roman Catholicism.” We are interested in applications from a range of diverse disciplinary approaches as well as different topics as they relate to Catholicism, such as art, architecture, liturgy, gender, race, religious conversion, biblical exegesis, the environment, and more. The scope of the position is global. Applications from scholars who specialize in inter-faith relations and the complexities of cross-cultural encounters are welcome. In concert with faculty across the College and the World Religions program, the Cottrill-Rolfes Chair will develop and implement an active program in Catholic Studies, with the understanding that the activities of the Chair should neither promote nor inhibit the Catholic religion. This will include programming for lectures and events of interest to the larger community on topics extending beyond the Chair’s immediate area of expertise.
The University of Kentucky is an R1 Research University with significant library holdings in Religious Studies, especially in the area of Christianity. Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Arabic, and an array of modern languages are available for undergraduate study. The College of Arts and Sciences has a growing community of internationally recognized scholars with interests in Islamic Studies, Jewish Studies, biblical studies and archaeology, pre-modern Christian history and art, Asian and South Asian religions, vernacular religion, mythology, and Indigenous religions, as well as in the religious dimensions of sociology, anthropology, psychology, gender and women’s studies, and symbolic systems. The student population and faculty are diverse and committed to internationalization. The successful candidate will foster collegial relations and opportunities for intellectual explorations across disciplinary boundaries.
Interested scholars should apply online at: https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/349509. Applications should include the following: 1.) a letter that includes a brief description of research interests, prospective projects, and relevant teaching experience, brief proposals for courses in Catholic Studies or Religious Studies, ideas about a lecture series on the theme “Catholicism and…” (upload as Cover Letter); 2.) a curriculum vitae; 3.) a recent, representative article or chapter; in the case of a major digital project for which the applicant is a primary PI, please send a link (upload as Specific Request 1); and 4.) a statement on inclusivity (upload as Specific Request 2). As a college and university, we are strongly committed to creating an inclusive and effective teaching, learning, and working environment for all. In one to two pages, applicants should reflect on their commitments, approaches, and insights related to inclusion, diversity, and equity. In addition, please provide the names and contact information for three references when prompted in the academic profile. The search committee will use this information when soliciting recommendation letters.
Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2021. Queries may be addressed to Prof. Abigail Firey, Director of World Religions; email afire2@uky.edu.
The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, African Americans, and all minorities. Applications from international scholars are welcome.
