Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Contemporary Islamic Religion and Society

Harvard Divinity School invites applications for a tenured or tenure-track appointment to the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Contemporary Islamic Religion and Society. We seek a scholar whose work primarily focuses on Islam in Africa, including those who may broadly engage with the African Diaspora in Latin America and/or the Caribbean. The successful candidate will demonstrate, through research and teaching, the historical and contemporary legacy of African expressions of Islam.  

The candidate will be expected to teach courses in Islamic Studies broadly defined and be able to teach courses relevant to their area(s) of specialization such as (but not limited to) Sufism, literary studies, women and gender studies, Islamic intellectual traditions, Qur’an studies, Islamic art and architecture, transnational and transregional movements, politics, and modernity.  

The successful candidate will work closely with students in the Divinity School's Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, and Master of Religion in Public Life programs, as well as PhD candidates in the Study of Religion in the Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The candidate will also be able to collaborate with other relevant units such as the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, the Department of African and African American Studies, and the Committee on the Study of Religion. 

Applications should be made online at: academicpositions.harvard.edu. Applications must include a CV, a cover letter, and writing sample. Candidates for untenured rank appointment (assistant and associate) should also provide the names and email addresses of three professional references who are prepared to submit letters of recommendations. The School may contact those persons directly at a later stage in the search. Review of applications will begin on January 13, 2025, and continue until the position is filled.  

Letters of nomination are welcome. Applicants should address any questions regarding the position itself or the online application system to the search office. Please contact us at alwaleed-search@hds.harvard.edu 

HDS is an equal opportunity, affirmative-action employer, and encourages applications and nominations of women and/or ethnic minority candidates. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.