College of Idaho, History

Howard Berger-Ray Neilsen Endowed Chair in Judaic Studies

The College of Idaho invites applications from dynamic teachers and creative scholars for the fully endowed Berger-Neilsen Chair of Judaic Studies (funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant). This will be the first endowed chair in Judaic Studies in the state of Idaho, and one of the few such chairs in the Pacific Northwest and the intermountain region. This Chair will be characterized by a conscious partnership with local Jewish leaders and communities throughout the region.

The Program the Chair oversees will broadly explore Judaism and the role Jewish people and culture have played in shaping human experience. The responsibilities of the Chair will include teaching five courses a year on a wide range of subjects, directly administering the fully endowed Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Lectureship in Judaic Studies at The College of Idaho, and designing fund-raising and community outreach plans. The Lectureship Program will be an outstanding opportunity to develop a vibrant intellectual community in Boise, Sun Valley, and throughout the region through lectures and classes on Jewish religion, culture, and history.

Specialization for this interdisciplinary position is open, but preference will be given to candidates who can offer engaging undergraduate courses on various aspects of Jewish history, especially Modern Israel, as well as Jewish religion, including the study of Jewish texts (the Tanach, Mishnah, and Talmud), and, potentially, classical Hebrew. The Chair will have the opportunity to participate in study abroad in Israel or other regions as appropriate. Ph.D. is required for this tenure-track position. Rank and compensation will be commensurate with experience.

Founded in 1891, the College of Idaho is the state’s oldest private college. It has educated some of the most accomplished graduates in Idaho, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three Marshall Scholars, and ten Truman and Goldwater Scholars. Our distinctive liberal arts curriculum challenges students to attain literacy in each of four academic areas, or “peaks”--the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and a professional field. Four of the previous six Carnegie Foundation Idaho Professors of the Year are members of the College’s faculty. Caldwell, a community of 46,000, is a half-hour drive from Idaho’s capital, Boise. The location is within easy reach of Idaho’s splendid mountains, providing opportunities for outdoor activities. Boise is also home to congregation Ahavath Beth Israel, the oldest synagogue in continuous use west of the Mississippi River.

Review of files will commence on October 20 in preparation for interviews at the AJS meeting.  Submit cover letter, CV, three letters of reference, and student evaluations to: hr@collegeofidahol.edu.  The College of Idaho is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.