Wallerstein Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies

Wallerstein Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies 

Drew University 

MADISON, NJ

Drew University’s Theological School seeks applications for the tenure-track Wallerstein Assistant Professor in Jewish Studies beginning August 2025. 

We seek a publicly engaged scholar-teacher committed to research and teaching in any aspect of Jewish studies broadly conceived, including Jewish contributions to interfaith studies across the three academic schools of Drew University: the College of Liberal Arts, the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, and the Theological School. Our colleague should demonstrate a strong ability to mentor students in the Theological School’s master's programs (MDiv, MATM, MAR, and STM), most of whom are pursuing ministerial vocations in congregations, social justice advocacy, or chaplaincy; as well as students in the DMin and PhD programs (Bible and Cultures; Theological and Philosophical Studies in Religion; and Social Ethics/Religion and Society). 

The Wallerstein Professorship in Jewish Studies was endowed in 1990 by Madeleine and Julian Wallerstein to promote the study of Jewish wisdom, life, and history at Drew University in ways that are broadly interfaith, contribute to the training of Methodist and other Protestant seminarians, and increase interreligious understanding and appreciation of Jewish contributions to world cultures. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Teach introductory and advanced courses in Jewish Studies and interfaith relations in the Theological School and one course per year in the College of Liberal Arts or the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Courses should have particular emphasis in Jewish religious, moral, and social visions and practices, and in Jewish encounters with Christianity and other religious traditions.
• Develop an active research and publishing agenda in the candidate’s area of expertise 
• Be an active and engaged member of the Drew community through participation in Theological School and University service, including engagement with students in all three schools, in consultation with the Dean of the Theological School. 
• The typical teaching load for this tenure-track position is four courses distributed over the academic year in addition to a course equivalent of advising students and mentoring student research.

Required Education, Interest, and Expertise: 

• The successful candidate should have a PhD in Jewish Studies, Religious Studies, or a related field, by August 1, 2025. 
• The candidate should have areas of expertise in: Teaching and Scholarship which may include Jewish literature and history of any period, and/or interfaith studies.  
• We also invite applicants with expertise in inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to religion such as feminist studies and gender and sexuality studies.
• The successful candidate will have an interest in teaching Jewish Studies in a Liberal Arts University with the majority of teaching done in the embedded graduate theological school.  
• The successful candidate will demonstrate strong potential for teaching and publishing, and a capacity to work effectively and creatively across instructional modalities (online, in-person, hybrid, immersive, experiential) with a student population marked by exceptionally diverse social identities and cultural backgrounds. 
• The candidate will have an interest in and commitment to the shared values articulated by the Theological School faculty, namely dismantling racism/racial justice, interfaith and ecumenical understanding and solidarity, ecological sustainability and environmental justice, and sexual and gender justice.

To apply, submit the following materials:

• Cover letter explaining your capacity to contribute to the life and mission of Drew University broadly, as well as specifically to the mission of Drew Theological School.
• Current curriculum vitae. 
• A 1–2-page statement of teaching philosophy, research interests, and potential contributions to our learning community.
• Contact information for three (3) professional letters of reference.

Review of applications will begin on January 3, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. 

About Drew University: 

Founded in 1867, Drew Theological School is embedded in Drew University, a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts institution whose beautiful, wooded campus is located in Madison, New Jersey, approximately twenty-five miles from New York City. 

The University includes the College of Liberal Arts, the Theological School, and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. It has a total enrollment of more than 2,100 students with 145 full-time faculty members. Drew is dedicated to exceptional faculty mentorship and hands-on learning that successfully prepares students for their futures. The University houses the Center for Global Education, the Center for Civic Engagement, the Center on Religion, Culture & Conflict, and the United Methodist Archives and History Center. 

The Theological School faculty is committed to collaboration and robust engagement around four shared values: commitments to social justice regarding matters of race/ethnicity, gender/sexuality, ecology/eco-sustainability, and multireligious relationships in their complex intersections with Christian histories. These values are reflected in our teaching, scholarship, and in the structure of our programs.

To enrich education through Diversity, Drew University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Following federal and state requirements, in accordance with Department of Homeland Security regulations, a successful candidate must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States if selected for hire. 

These positions are subject to a background check.