Director of the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization

Director of the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado

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.

About the Benson Center:

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.

About CU Boulder:

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.

Compensation:

$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.

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 (e.g., 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.

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.

Benefits:

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit.

Note: This search is being conducted by WittKieffer. Applications submitted on the CU Boulder Job Site will NOT be reviewed. Applications must be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal. For full consideration, candidate materials should be submitted by Friday, August 14, 2026.