Director of the Buchanan Center for Peace and Non-Violence at Avila University – Kansas City, Missouri

POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of the Buchanan Center for Peace and Non-Violence is a key figure in the promotion of the university’s mission and values. While the impact of this role crosses various realms within the university, the Director’s primary emphasis is curricular, involving innovative teaching, professional development support for faculty and staff, and working with other university stakeholders to create community-engagement opportunities that promote the values of peace and non-violence. This position is a 50% faculty appointment and a 50% program direction appointment (with variation allowable in those roles based on campus community needs).

Avila University is a Catholic University founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, whose mission is to "love God and the Dear Neighbor without distinction, that all may be one.” The Buchanan Center for Peace and Non-Violence at Avila University provides curricular support, professional development opportunities, and student programming support to the Avila community to promote the values of peace and non-violence as they exist within the larger mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Responsibilities:
• Work with the two College Deans and other relevant stakeholders to create and provide high-impact professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to help them incorporate the university’s mission and values (specifically as they regard peace and non-violence) into their programs and courses.
• Teach two courses per semester (in Philosophy, Religious Studies, or a related field) pertaining to ethics, peace and non-violence, and/or human rights, as rooted in Catholic social teaching. The ideal candidate will not only be able to teach in this area but will also collaborate in the production of new curricula as needed.
• Collaborate with other stakeholders on updates to First Year Seminar curricula and other student-facing educational opportunities.
• Provide collaboration, engagement, and support to the Student Life Staff and Director of Campus Ministry in the development of high-impact co-curricular service and community engagement opportunities that align with the university’s mission and values.
• Work with other campus entities and community partners to create and implement new and innovative ways to bring together diverse communities of scholars, students, community members, and peace practitioners to promote the values of peace and non-violence within the Avila community and beyond.
• Create high-impact, measurable, and relevant learning outcomes related to the Center, and participate in assessment activities to improve and measure progress toward learning.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
• Ph.D. or relevant Doctorate degree in Philosophy, Religious Studies, or a related field required. Candidates with Master’s degrees may be considered depending on content expertise and relevant experience.
• Academic expertise in the topics of peace and non-violence work as it relates to human rights, ethics, restorative justice, social justice movements, and/or other related topics, etc.
• Strong knowledge of and support for restorative justice and conflict resolution techniques.
• Strong knowledge of and support for the Catholic social and intellectual traditions as they relate to the mission and values of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
• Proven track record of success with innovative, high-impact student and faculty programming.
• Strong ethical commitment to and experience working with diverse populations, as they span gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and other identity markers.
• Excellent teaching and student support skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent teamwork skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, inclusive, safe, and just environment for students.
• Multilingual skills highly preferred.
• Ability to contribute to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves first-generation college students, multilingual learners, and contributions to equity and social justice through their work.

Successful candidates should be committed to contributing to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves first-generation college students, multilingual learners, and contributions to equity and social justice through their work.

Benefits:
This is a full-time position, eligible for the usual and customary benefits. Avila University’s comprehensive benefit package includes a generous holiday schedule, tuition remission for employee and dependents, vacation and sick leave, retirement benefits and health insurance.

The Community:
Kansas City, a two-state metropolitan area with a population of nearly two million, offers a wide variety of cultural, educational and social life opportunities. Avila University, a Catholic university founded and inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, provides undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and professional studies, preparing lifelong learners who make meaningful contributions to the global community.

Additional Employment Information:
Avila University is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of, sex, race, religion, age, color, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran's status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

You must be at least 18 years of age to be employed by Avila University.

All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)” and produce requested documentation after employment.

In compliance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, the university's annual security and crime statistics report is available at https://www.avila.edu/campus-resources/campus-safety. A copy of this report is available upon request from the Campus Safety Office in the Whitfield building any weekday between 8am and 5pm.

Avila University requires the successful completion of a background check as a condition of employment.