Teaching Professor - Theology

OVERVIEW

THE OPPORTUNITY

The University of St. Thomas invites applications for a full-time, 10-month Teaching Professor position in Theology for the university’s two-year college, the Dougherty Family College. This is a non-tenure-track, renewable position.

The faculty member will teach an in-person, 100-level Theology course (e.g., Foundations of the Christian Tradition) and serve as academic advisor and mentor to a cohort of students. We seek colleagues with a record of success in teaching theology courses, expertise in culturally responsive pedagogy, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Faculty are expected to teach in-person three sections of theology per semester and provide intensive mentoring and advising. The successful candidate will also teach an online course during January and every other summer (additional compensation is given for online courses). This faculty member will also provide service to the college and university (support committee work, etc.).

This is a full-time 10-month non-tenure track, renewable position (starting August 1, 2027).  

THE UNIVERSITY

Established in 1885, the University of St. Thomas is located in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and is Minnesota’s largest private university. Its 10,000 students pursue degrees in a wide range of liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs.

As a community, the University of St. Thomas is committed to:

• Pursuit of truth - We value intellectual inquiry as a life-long habit, the unfettered and impartial pursuit of truth in all its forms, the integration of knowledge across disciplines, and the imaginative and creative exploration of new ideas.
• Academic excellence - We create a culture among faculty, students, and staff that recognizes the power of ideas and rewards rigorous thinking.
• Faith and reason - We actively engage Catholic intellectual tradition, which values the fundamental compatibility of faith and reason and fosters meaningful dialogue directed toward the flourishing of human culture.
• Dignity - We respect the dignity of each person and value the unique contributions that each brings to the greater mosaic of the university community.
• Diversity - We strive to create a vibrant, diverse community in which, together, we work for a more just and inclusive society.
• Personal attention - We foster a caring culture that supports the well-being of each member.
• Gratitude - We celebrate the achievements of all members of our community in goals attained and obstacles overcome, and in all things give praise to God.

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity, and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic. This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

Salary and Benefits

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Tuition remission benefits for employees, spouses, and dependents upon eligibility
• A generous employer retirement contribution upon eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Employer-paid disability, life, and AD&D benefits
• Paid parental leave benefits 

The salary range is for this position is $58,000- $63,000 a year (depending on education and experience) plus health benefits.

The University of St. Thomas has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

QUALIFICATIONS

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION

We seek candidates who recognize the value of high expectations, student-teacher relationships, and home-school-community connections for students’ academic achievement. Competitive candidates will demonstrate how their teaching record fosters successful learning communities reflective of their students’ diverse cultures. Candidates will also demonstrate how their teaching has prompted students to make use of their culturally embedded knowledge, resulting in meaningful learning that affirms their students’ social identities and connections while promoting high academic performance.

Successful candidates will have a background in critical and/or culturally responsive pedagogies and recognize their own cultural experiences, identities, manifestation of privilege, and the dynamics these evoke in and outside of the classroom. Candidates will embrace self-reflection, value excellence through educational equity, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing culturally responsive learning in a collaborative, collegial environment.

We are seeking highly motivated, innovative, and creative educators who will provide intensive mentoring and advising to students. Faculty mentors are expected to help students earn their associate of arts degrees and prepare them with the solid educational foundation to successfully complete their bachelor’s degrees. Faculty are expected to be on campus and available to students at least four days a week 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The academic class schedule is very structured. The faculty member will teach three sections of Theology in the Fall semester and three every Spring, with an additional January online course and a summer course (also online) every other year. The three theology sections are each scheduled for a 2-hour block twice a week (total of 4 hours of instructional time per section each week). Faculty will meet with each advisee (approximately twenty-five advisees) for individual mentoring sessions at minimum 20 minutes a month. Faculty will meet with their entire cohort in Leadership Advisory Groups (LAG) at minimum 1 hour a month. In addition to teaching, mentoring, and service to the college/university, faculty are expected to work with students during the August summer enrichment program and perform other responsibilities related to college program development and assessment.

Required: master’s degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent degree) in theology or a closely related discipline. Candidates with at least one year of college teaching experience (community college teaching experience a plus) are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:

To be considered for this opportunity, all applicants must apply online at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/. 

The application process consists of several required steps, completed in the order outlined below.

Step 1.

You will first be asked to create an applicant profile. As part of creating your profile, you must upload the following materials: 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a one-page statement that presents the candidate’s philosophy of developing and leading initiatives to support a culturally responsive curriculum (discuss culturally responsive pedagogy in the statement) and evidence of teaching excellence with underserved students (e.g., student feedback on your teaching)

Please upload only the documents specifically requested in the job posting at this stage. Do not upload any additional materials into other available fields. Candidates selected for further review may be contacted later to submit additional materials.

Step 2.

After submitting your applicant profile, you will be directed to the job‑specific application. During this step, you will be asked to:

• Copy and paste a job‑specific cover letter detailing your interest in the position
• Complete the voluntary EEO, Veteran, and Disability self‑identification forms 

Step 3.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references who can speak directly to your teaching experience and qualifications.

• References will not be contacted without your permission
• Reference checks typically occur during the later stages of the search process

Application Deadline: January 15, 2027 

All application materials must be submitted online through the University of St. Thomas employment site.

Established in 1885, the University of St. Thomas is located in the major metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and is Minnesota’s largest private university. Its 10,000 students pursue degrees in a wide range of liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs.

Official job posting is available at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/.