Program Director, Ed.D. - Artificial Intelligence & Moral Agency (Shawu Divinity School)

Job Summary:

The Program Director of the Doctor of Education in Artificial Intelligence and Moral Agency must be able to lead with expertise in ethics and or Artificial Intelligence with a grounding in Theological Studies. Reporting to the Dean of the Divinity School, The Program Director provides academic leadership and day-to-day administrative oversight for the EdD in Artificial Intelligence and Moral Agency, SUDS's first doctoral-level offering. This person sets the academic vision for the program in partnership with the Dean, ensures the curriculum (theological ethics foundations in Year 1, AI applications and human agency in Year 2, research methods and colloquy in Year 3, and dissertation research in Year 4) is delivered with rigor, and personally teaches, advises, and chairs dissertations within a cohort model designed for bi-vocational adult learners.

Because this is a launch-phase program, the Director will also help build the infrastructure, faculty bench, and external partnerships (e.g., with AI-ethics centers and technical institutions) that the degree will depend on for the next several admissions cycles.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide overall academic leadership for the EdD program, including curriculum oversight,

learning outcomes, and program review in coordination with the Dean and institutional

accreditation requirements.

• Recruit, mentor, and evaluate full-time and adjunct faculty teaching in the program; build a

roster of instructors with combined strength in theological ethics and AI literacy.

• Teach assigned doctoral seminars and chair or serve on dissertation committees.
• Oversee admissions review for the program in partnership with the Admissions Office, applying

the program's criteria (graduate theological degree, five years of bi-vocational leadership

experience, GPA/equivalency standards).

• Coordinate the three-year residency sequence and annual cohort colloquy, including scheduling,

faculty assignments, and student progress tracking toward the 45-credit (36 coursework plus 9

dissertation) requirement.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective students, partner institutions, and

accreditation bodies regarding the EdD program.

• Develop and manage the program budget, including faculty contracts, library/AI-tool licensing,

and conference or professional-development support for faculty and students.

• Build and maintain relationships with AI-ethics research centers, technology partners, and

continuing-education providers (e.g., for faculty AI-ethics certification) to keep curriculum

current.

• Represent the program at conferences, denominational meetings, and academic associations

relevant to theological education and AI ethics.

• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

FT Faculty, PT-Adjunct Faculty

Minimum Job Qualifications

Required

• Earned doctorate (PhD, ThD, EdD, or DMin) in theology, religious studies, Christian ethics, or a

closely related field.

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in theological or graduate

higher education, including teaching at the graduate level.

• Demonstrated experience advising, mentoring, or chairing graduate-level research or

dissertations.

• Working knowledge of core AI ethics concepts and frameworks (e.g., algorithmic fairness, bias

and discrimination, accountability and transparency standards such as the NIST AI Risk

Management Framework) sufficient to guide curriculum and faculty hiring, or a documented

plan to acquire this through certificate study.

• Demonstrated understanding of, and respect for, bi-vocational and pastoral ministry contexts and

the needs of adult professional learners.

• Strong organizational, budgetary, and personnel-management skills appropriate to launching and

sustaining a new doctoral program.

Preferred

• A practical theologian with professional experience outside a formal religious setting (e.g., healthcare, education, criminal justice, technology, public policy, or nonprofit leadership) that informs an applied, interdisciplinary approach to AI ethics.
• Record of scholarly publication or conference presentation in theological ethics, AI ethics, or a related interdisciplinary field (e.g., in venues such as Journal of Religion and Health, AI and Ethics, Journal of Moral Theology, or at conferences such as AIES or FAccT).
• Completed certificate, fellowship, or coursework in AI ethics or related technology policy from a recognized institution.
• Ordination, commissioning, or comparable standing within a faith community.
• Experience with online or hybrid doctoral program delivery and learning-management systems.
• Experience building external partnerships with research centers, denominational bodies, or industry organizations.

Other Competencies (skills, abilities, behavior)

Must have a philosophy that is consistent with the Mission, Vision and Core Values of the

organization. Vision, commitment, and experience in achieving goals and pursuing excellence is

critical: ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic and demanding

environment. Must have strong verbal and written communication and organizational skills; proven

ability to manage multiple complex assignments with sensitivity to deadlines, priorities, and

changing circumstances; demonstrated professional work ethic and positive, problem-solving

attitude. Must be able to read, write and speak fluently in English.

Physical Demands

Ability to sit or stand for up to 8 hours/day. Some lifting (up to 25 pounds occasionally), bending, and

carrying. The employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and to use hands and fingers to handle or

feel.