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Job Description
Job Summary Attention:
This is a listing for visibility, PLEASE
DO NOT APPLY TO THIS POSITION ON THIS SITE.
The University of Colorado has engaged WittKieffer to support the recruitment of the Director of the Bruce D. Benson Center. Applications must be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal . Applications submitted here on the CU Boulder Job Site
WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.
This search is being led by Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D., Suzanne Teer, and Bronwen Bares Pelaez, Ph.D., of WittKieffer. Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D. (mayahb@wittkieffer.com) and Bronwen Bares Peleaz, Ph.D. (bbarespelaez@wittkieffer.com).
Announcement:
The University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Director of the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization, which is a senior endowed chair, rostered within any department in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Director will be a distinguished scholar and dynamic academic leader who brings intellectual vision, collaborative instinct, and entrepreneurial energy to one of the nation's most highly endowed university-based centers dedicated to the study of Western civilization, civic culture, and free inquiry. The successful candidate will be an accomplished, tenured faculty member with a record of scholarly distinction and teaching excellence, as well as experience in administrative leadership. CU Boulder seeks a director who can lead with credibility and care, engage productively across differences, raise and steward significant philanthropic resources, and position the Benson Center as an indispensable contributor to campus life, student success, and public discourse. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Who We Are The University of Colorado Boulder is Colorado's leading public research university, transforming lives since 1876. As the state's flagship university and one of only 38 U.S. public research institutions in the Association of American Universities (AAU), CU Boulder has proudly served Coloradans since the state's founding. Home to five Nobel Laureates since 1989, CU Boulder provides a strong return on investment by aligning efforts to achieve research and creative excellence, global sustainability impact, and the success of all students, faculty, and staff. The Benson Center promotes the study of the intellectual, artistic, and political traditions that characterize Western civilization. Central to this mission is our commitment to fostering dialogue about fundamental values and controversial questions. The Center provides a forum for free inquiry and respectful open debate and promotes academic freedom and intellectual diversity. What You Should Know
DO NOT APPLY ON THIS SITE
The University of Colorado has engaged WittKieffer to support the recruitment of the Director of the Bruce D. Benson Center. Applications submitted here on the CU Boulder Job Site
WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.
Applications must be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal . This search is being led by Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D., Suzanne Teer, and Bronwen Bares Pelaez, Ph.D., of WittKieffer. Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D. (mayahb@wittkieffer.com) and Bronwen Bares Peleaz, Ph.D. (bbarespelaez@wittkieffer.com). For full consideration, candidate materials should be submitted directly to WittKieffer by Friday, August 14, 2026. The University of Colorado Boulder has implemented a reference check program with respect to final candidates for tenured faculty appointments. The reference check program is intended to allow CU Boulder to collect and review information about a candidate's conduct at their current and previous institutions, specifically conduct related to sexual misconduct, harassment, and/or discrimination - before making hiring decisions. All final candidates for tenured faculty appointments are required to complete an Authorization to Release Information. What We Can Offer The Benson Center Director includes $90,000 in annual compensation for the Director role, in addition to the base academic-year faculty salary of $175,000-$220,000, depending on the discipline of the joint appointment. Potential research support, course releases, and relocation assistance available, subject to University policy. Benefits At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program. Be Statements Be engaged. Be visionary. Be Boulder. What We Require Academic and Professional Credentials Advanced academic credentials with an earned doctorate or terminal degree. A distinguished record of scholarship and teaching in a relevant field such as history, classics, political science, philosophy, or economics that would warrant a tenured faculty appointment (associate or full professor) within the College of Arts and Sciences. Demonstrated interdisciplinary engagement and public-facing scholarship. Leadership and Strategic Capacity Demonstrated leadership experience required to lead and strengthen a nationally recognized academic center, for example: leadership of a department, center, institute, think tank, or comparable organization. Ability to conceive, articulate, and execute a strategic vision. Strong organizational, financial, and administrative and personnel management skills. Demonstrated ability or clear potential to engage successfully in fundraising and donor relations. Interpersonal and Communication Strength Collaborative, transparent leadership style aligned with shared governance. Exceptional communication and listening skills. Capacity to build trust across ideological, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries. An appreciation for shared governance and institutional context. Personal Attributes Commitment to academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and free inquiry. Intellectual humility, resilience, and sound judgment. Entrepreneurial mindset balanced with institutional awareness. Genuine enthusiasm for the Benson Center's mission and for leadership in a public research university. Special Instructions
DO NOT APPLY ON THIS SITE.
Applications must be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal . The University of Colorado has engaged WittKieffer to support the recruitment of the Director of the Bruce D. Benson Center. Applications submitted here on the CU Boulder Job Site
WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.
This search is being led by Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D., Suzanne Teer, and Bronwen Bares Pelaez, Ph.D., of WittKieffer. Nominations and inquiries may be directed to Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D. (mayahb@wittkieffer.com) and Bronwen Bares Peleaz, Ph.D. (bbarespelaez@wittkieffer.com). For full consideration, candidate materials should be submitted directly to WittKieffer by Friday, August 14, 2026. In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
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