Dear Starr King Community,
The Search has officially begun!
Over the past several weeks, the Presidential Search Committee analyzed the wealth of input we received during our listening sessions during the week of November 18 and translated what was shared into our search materials, including our Presidential Prospectus.
This week, we posted job listings in several publications and platforms, including The Chronical of Higher Education, the UUA job board, the UU Ministers Association, LinkedIn, Inside Higher Ed, Higher Ed Jobs, American Academy of Religion, Engage ATS, The UU World, and more. Over the next few weeks, Search Committee members will be contacting various Unitarian Universalist and other progressive religious leaders to ask them to identify candidates we might encourage to apply. Candidates and those who might know candidates are directed to our Presidential Search webpage, which provides more information about the role, the ideal candidate, and Starr King itself. Applications are due February 20 for best consideration.
Based on feedback from the listening sessions, we are looking for someone with proven experience in higher education, theological education, and/or religious leadership in institutions and/or communities. The next president need not be a Unitarian Universalist, but must have deep knowledge and/or understanding of Unitarian Universalism – both in an historical context and in its current evolution – as well as an understanding and appreciation of multi-religiosity.
This is a pivotal time for Starr King. We are already responding to larger headwinds within theological education that create challenges in financial stability and sustainability, including lingering inflation, widespread decreases in enrollment in higher education, and changing dynamics within religion and religious communities. However, we are now also going into potential cultural headwinds that will create new challenges for all progressive institutions – and make strong leadership of these institutions even more important for future ministers, religious leaders, and social change agents.
We would love to hear from you! If you have suggestions for candidates, please contact us at FuturePresident@sksm.edu. Questions or comments about the search can be directed to the Search Committee at SearchCommittee@sksm.edu. Semi-finalists will be identified in early March, with a list of finalists sent to the Board of Trustees for selection in early April.
In the meantime, check out more information about the position information at www.sksm.edu/presidentialsearch.
In faith,
Linda Laskowski
Chair, Starr King School for the Ministry Presidential Search, on behalf of herself and
Rev. Dianne Daniels
Dr. Som Pourfarzaneh
Richael Faithful
Rev. Dr. Sheri Prud’homme
Kellie Kinsman
Rev. Dr. Chris Schelin
Dr. Kat Liu
