Executive Director

The Louisville Institute (LI) invites applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director (ED). This is an exceptional opportunity for an innovative and collaborative leader to advance LI’s critical work at the intersection of the church and academy. LI celebrates its 35^th anniversary in 2025 and is poised for expanded capacity and impact as a result of generous funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. (LEI) in its 2025 continuing grant award. This substantial investment from LEI along with an ongoing organizational restructuring effort guided by the governing leadership of LI positions the next ED to build on LI’s significant history and lead the organization into its next chapter. This is a distinctive opportunity to serve as an impactful catalyst who will engage the breadth and depth of North American Christianity in its rich diversities, build and enhance bridges of mutual learning and development between church and academy, and serve as a convener who inspires with hope and possibility amid a rapidly changing and complex landscape. 

Through collaborative partnerships and an expanding network, the Executive Director convenes a diverse array of researchers, congregational ministry leaders, and scholars to confer on the needs and changing nature of the church, and the academy that serves it; helps to identify and support promising religious scholarship that serves the purpose of the church; and builds ongoing relationships between the Institute and seminaries, colleges, universities, churches, and other faith-based agencies with whom LI intersects. The Executive Director seeks to focus the potential of religious research to advance the vitality of faith communities, theological studies, religious studies, and theological education in North America.

Reporting to the President of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS), the ED is the chief executive of the institute, leading a team of 6, and will oversee the current 3-year continuation grant cycle with a budget of $18M. Working collaboratively with Lilly Endowment, LPTS, the LI Advisory Board, key stakeholders, and the LI staff, the next ED will create a compelling vision and strategy for the future of LI. In particular, the ED will champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization and across the field, lead a healthy organizational culture through the development of a collaborative, high-functioning team, and advance the thought leadership and innovative field-building work of the institute across North America. 

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent electronically below. 

Ernest Brooks is leading this search with Liz Braun and Melissa Barravecchio.