La Roche University, an independent Catholic university located in the suburban North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, seeks an experienced and passionate leader to serve as the inaugural Executive Director of the Ketteler Center for Peace, Justice, and Inclusion.
The Ketteler Center is a new partnership with the University’s founding and sponsoring Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence, which helps nurture the values inherent in their charism and mission to “co-create a world of compassion, justice, and peace.” La Roche fosters global citizenship and creates a community of scholars from the region, the nation, and worldwide. It integrates liberal arts and professional education in creative ways, empowering all members of the community to become lifelong learners, achieve success in their chosen careers, and promote justice and peace in a constantly changing global society.
Rooted in the Christian gospels and Catholic Social Teaching, the Center is a vital extension of La Roche’s founding mission and a reflection of the University’s commitment to social justice, peace, and service. Named in honor of the Congregation’s founder, Bishop Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler (1811-1877), the Center engages students, faculty, staff, and the broader community in initiatives relating to our mission and Catholic identify that promote solidarity, human dignity, and social change.
The role of the Executive Director of the Ketteler Center involves actively promoting and implementing social justice initiatives on the university campus, grounded in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, by providing opportunities for engaging the university community on issues of poverty, human rights, and environmental justice, while organizing community outreach activities and advocating for systemic change aligned with Catholic values. The Center provides opportunities for service, learning, and reflection.
The Executive Director reports to the president and works in collaboration with the departments of Inclusion and Belonging, Mission Integration, Providence Campus Ministry, the Introcaso Center for Life Learning, the Ketteler Legacy for Justice Office of the Sisters of Divine Providence, as well as faculty across all disciplines. The Center is the central hub of the University’s efforts to build a society where the dignity of every person is upheld, where justice and peace prevail, and where the common good is integral to all of our actions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Education and Awareness Raising:
- Develop and deliver workshops, presentations, and curriculum materials on Catholic Social Teaching principles like the dignity of the human person, option for the poor and vulnerable, solidarity, and care for God's creation.
- Integrate social justice issues into curriculum through collaboration with faculty.
- Organize lectures, panel discussions, and film screenings to raise awareness of social justice issues relevant to the local community.
- Facilitate student reflection groups and discussions on Catholic social teachings and their application to contemporary issues.
- Create awareness campaigns and events to highlight social justice concerns.
- Community Engagement and Collaboration:
- Build relationships with student organizations, faculty, staff, and community partners focused on social justice issues.
- Facilitate dialogue and discussion groups on social justice topics, in the spirit of Cardinal Bernadin’s Common Ground Initiative.
- Support student-led initiatives and activism related to social justice.
- Partner with the Sisters of Divine Providence and local community organizations to collaborate on social justice projects and advocacy efforts, such as food insecurity, homelessness, environmental stewardship.
- Advocacy and Policy Development:
- Advocate for institutional policies and practices that align with Catholic Social Teaching, including ethical sourcing, fair labor practices, and environmental sustainability.
- Collaborate with student government, faculty, and administrators to integrate social justice considerations into campus planning and decision-making.
- Lobby for legislation and policy changes at the local and state levels that promote social justice.
- Research and Analysis:
- Conduct research on social justice issues relevant to the university community.
- Gather data to assess the impact of social justice initiatives and identify areas for improvement.
- Analyze trends and best practices in social justice education and advocacy within higher education.
- Leadership and Collaboration:
- Build relationships with student organizations, campus ministries, and other departments to foster a comprehensive approach to social justice on campus.
- Recruit and train student leaders to champion social justice initiatives within their organizations.
- Manage a budget for social justice programs and activities.
Required Qualifications and Education:
- Strong understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and the ability to articulate its principles in a contemporary context.
- Experience in community outreach, social justice advocacy, and coalition building.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse audiences.
- Ability to facilitate difficult conversations and create safe spaces for dialogue.
- Ability to develop and implement educational programs, including curriculum development and training workshops.
- Commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
- Master's degree in social work, education, sociology, theology, religious studies, or a related field preferred.
Qualified applicants can complete an online application by clicking on the following link:
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
For applications to be fully processed, submissions must include a letter of interest addressing the job responsibilities, resume/CV, and a list of professional references by March 30, 2025.
It is the policy of the University to promote equal opportunity to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, creed, age, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, or non-job-related disability or medical condition, or any other legally protected status.
Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work in the United States. LRU will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.
No relocation assistance.