November 25, 2003
Belmont Launches National Search for Next School of Religion Dean
Belmont University has begun a national search for the next dean of the university's School of Religion. The current dean, Dr. Steven H. Simpler, professor of religion, previously announced he will step down at the close of the 2003-2004 academic year, though he will continue to teach full time in the School of Religion. He has served as the Dean of the School of Religion since 1990.
"At Belmont we provide a premier, student centered education, which challenges students to engage and transform the world through disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage, and faith," says Belmont University Provost Dan McAlexander. "The School of Religion is a vital component of this experience. We are seeking a visionary leader who will support an outstanding religion faculty as it works to sustain the quality of existing academic and outreach programs, and to develop a strategic vision for new and innovative programs in the field."
The new dean will lead efforts to enhance and strengthen the curriculum, create innovative and competitive degree programs, cultivate relationships and broaden the school's interaction with and its impact upon the campus and the local and global communities.
The Belmont School of Religion has eight full-time and numerous adjunct faculty members who serve approximately 100 religion majors and minors in its undergraduate program and more than 1,000 students annually in its general education courses. Graduates from the school's dual track programs of congregational ministry and theological studies are regularly accepted into the nation's top seminaries and graduate schools and many go on to careers in ministry, community service or other Christian vocations.
The School of Religion also houses the Moench Center for Church Leadership, founded in 1996, which provides continuing education in church leadership for pastors and lay leaders throughout the country. The Center is the professional development arm of the School of Religion and helps train church leaders via seminars, developing leadership education partnerships, and providing consultation to churches and denominational organizations in 27 states from New Hampshire to Arizona. The Moench Center's six-course SkillTrack® curriculum on Christian leadership was adopted as a required element for the Tennessee Baptist Convention's "Certificate in Ministry."
Belmont University is a coeducational university affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. It is a student-centered, teaching university which focuses on academic excellence and integrative learning, enrolls approximately 3600 students from 48 states and 28 countries, and employs more than 200 full-time faculty teaching in undergraduate programs with 57 major areas of study and selected master's and doctoral degree programs. It is dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an academically challenging education in a Christian community.
Applicants will be asked to articulate how their knowledge, experience, and beliefs have prepared them to function in support of the institutional vision, mission, and values. In addition, the successful applicant will show evidence of active membership in a Baptist church, and upon appointment, will be expected to assume active membership in a church in harmony with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Belmont University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer under all applicable civil rights laws. Women and minorities are invited to apply.
Review of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. There is a complete position prospectus on the university's human resources website.
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Named one of the top two “Schools to Watch” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University is a fast-growing community of more than 5,400 students who come from every state and 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The university’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. With more than 75 areas of study, 20 master’s programs and three doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.
For more information visit www.belmont.edu
