Faculty Director, Miller National Academy for Free Expression & Pluralism

The National Academy of Free Expression and Pluralism at the University of Denver will have as its stated mission to focus students, faculty and staff on the values of free expression, civil discourse, and pluralism, in community with a diverse set of some of the country’s most prominent scholars and practitioners. Curricular and co-curricular experiences on free expression and pluralism will be part of every student’s experience; grants will be provided to support internal and external research projects dedicated to free expression; and visiting faculty and speakers will be given a platform to share their experiences and expertise. Over time, the National Academy will expand its reach beyond the university community, with a focus on turning theory and thinking into action by launching a Scholars-in-Residence program to host leading thinkers/researchers, convening an Annual Summit on Pluralism, developing an essential K-12 civil discourse pedagogy, and offering civil discourse training to the corporate community—among other initiatives.

As a part of the Senior Leadership team for the National Academy, the Faculty Director will bring an academic and curricular perspective to the team and serve as a direct liaison to the University on behalf of the National Academy. This is a stipend role on top of an already established faculty line at DU.

The Faculty Director should embody both strong alignment with the University’s values of inclusion, innovation, excellence, integrity, and education, as well as a commitment to efficient and collaborative work.

Position Summary

The Faculty Director reports to the Executive Director, John and Sandy Miller National Academy for Free Expression and Pluralism and is a member of the National Academy’s senior leadership team. The Faculty Director will have wide range of responsibilities related to supporting the work of the National Academy across University and the Nation. The Faculty Director will support efforts in faculty engagement, communications, and support the Executive Director in operational plan development and implementation, fundraising initiatives, and donor and alumni relations.

Essential Functions

• Provide intellectual leadership for the Academy's academic and co-curricular programming, advancing the study and practice of free expression, viewpoint diversity, constructive dialogue, and pluralism across the University community.
• Support faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students in developing scholarship, teaching, and public programming related to free inquiry, democratic engagement, civil discourse, and the productive exchange of diverse perspectives.
• Develop and oversee educational initiatives, including workshops, speaker series, reading groups, conferences, and curricular partnerships that foster habits of open inquiry, critical thinking, and respectful disagreement.
• Collaborate with academic units, student affairs, and university leadership to promote a campus culture in which freedom of expression, academic freedom, and inclusive intellectual engagement are understood, practiced, and supported.
• Build partnerships with national scholars, research centers, philanthropic organizations, and community leaders to enhance the Academy’s visibility, impact, and contribution to national conversations on free expression and pluralism in higher education.
• Represent the Academy on university committees and external forums, serving as a thought leader and ambassador for the University of Denver’s commitment to academic excellence, viewpoint diversity, and the open exchange of ideas.
• Cultivate opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and research that explore the foundations, challenges, and practice of free expression and pluralism in contemporary society.
• Develop and implement assessment tools and evaluation practices to measure the effectiveness of Academy programs, events, workshops, and educational initiatives related to free expression, civil discourse, and pluralism, and use findings to inform continuous improvement and strategic planning.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Display a complex understanding of faculty life in modern-day higher education context
• Understanding of academic processes, policies, practices, and cultural nuances common with a mid-sized higher education institution with prioritization of both research and teaching.
• Ability and commitment toward creating humanizing spaces, places, and practices for faculty and grad students at DU.

Required Qualifications

• Tenured faculty line at DU with a background including teaching, scholarship, and service
• Faculty rank of associate or full professor.
• Evidence of experience in some sort of leadership and/or engagement in higher education

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to engage in meaningful professional relationships while engaging in sometimes challenging conversations and collaborations with university and local communities.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) September 18, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through the Internal Career Opportunities link in My4D to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Compensation:
This Faculty Director appointment includes a $23,000 annual stipend, paid in addition to the selected faculty member’s regular University salary for the duration of the appointment. It also includes a 50% course load buyout

The University of Denver 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 University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate 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, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.